i’ve lived in both and have deeply enjoyed my experience, but only really because i am tethered to centers of ‘art and culture’ (classical musician), so quality of schools and employment rapidly drop if you’re not in a major metropolitan area. my view is obviously skewed, but if you’re not involved in an industry that is directly reliant on population density i think life if just kinda worse in the city: loud, expensive, dirty. i’m only here because it’s where i can do my job at the highest level that my skills afford; not too much room to play in a city like Richmond. grew up in NYC and i dread the thought of raising my own children here.