50 Best US Skylines

BlueDot · #1 Posted **May 26, 2024, 4:48 AM**

Don’t think this has ever been discussed before; but I was curious to see what everyone’s opinions of on what they think of the 50 best skylines in the US? I’ve visited a few of these cities so I’ll start. 1. New York City (impressive, yet looks congested) 2.Chicago 3. Seattle (would love to visit there someday) 4. San Francisco 5. Denver 6. Minneapolis ( big and sprawling.. yet inviting for some reason) 7. Los Angeles 8. Philadelphia 9. Miami ( very picturesque) 10. Dallas 11. Boston 12. Atlanta ( impressive - but a pain to navigate) 13. San Diego 14. Houston ( see Atlanta) 15. Pittsburgh 16. Charlotte 17. Las Vegas 18. Nashville ( is in the midst of an economic boom) 19. Honolulu (definitely on my bucket list ) 20. Columbus 21. Austin 22. Tampa 23. Portland 24. Baltimore 25. Cleveland 26. New Orleans ( a lot denser then it looks ) 27. Indianapolis 28. Kansas City 29. Phoenix 30. Detroit 31. Sacramento 32. Orlando 33. Cincinnati 34. San Antonio 35. Milwaukee 36. Oakland 37. Salt Lake City 38. Memphis 39. St Louis 40. Richmond 41. Jersey City 42. Omaha 43. San Jose 44. Tulsa 45. Oklahoma City ( I dunno it just looks weird) 46. Des Moines 47. Jacksonville (needs more height) 48. Birmingham 49. Louisville 50. Providence

SpawnOfVulcan · #2 Posted **May 26, 2024, 9:19 AM**

While I'm certainly glad my Birmingham doesn't come in at #50 on your list, I think it has a lot of density that goes unnoticed. Placing it below San Jose seems especially harsh unless there's something I'm missing...

bigstick · #3 Posted **May 26, 2024, 12:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpawnOfVulcan

While I'm certainly glad my Birmingham doesn't come in at #50 on your list, I think it has a lot of density that goes unnoticed. Placing it below San Jose seems especially harsh unless there's something I'm missing...

I like Birmingham, but the skyline is tiny.

SpawnOfVulcan · #4 Posted **May 26, 2024, 4:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigstick

I like Birmingham, but the skyline is tiny.

Well, you dislike everything about Birmingham, so your comments should be taken with a grain of salt.

bigstick · #5 Posted **May 27, 2024, 12:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpawnOfVulcan

Well, you dislike everything about Birmingham, so your comments should be taken with a grain of salt.

Did I say I disliked Birmingham? No, I did not, sorry, but the Birmingham skyline is nothing, facts.

bigstick · #6 Posted **May 26, 2024, 12:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueDot

Don’t think this has ever been discussed before; but I was curious to see what everyone’s opinions of on what they think of the 50 best skylines in the US? I’ve visited a few of these cities so I’ll start. 1. New York City (impressive, yet looks congested) 2.Chicago 3. Seattle (would love to visit there someday) 4. San Francisco 5. Denver 6. Minneapolis ( big and sprawling.. yet inviting for some reason) 7. Los Angeles 8. Philadelphia 9. Miami ( very picturesque) 10. Dallas 11. Boston 12. Atlanta ( impressive - but a pain to navigate) 13. San Diego 14. Houston ( see Atlanta) 15. Pittsburgh 16. Charlotte 17. Las Vegas 18. Nashville ( is in the midst of an economic boom) 19. Honolulu (definitely on my bucket list ) 20. Columbus 21. Austin 22. Tampa 23. Portland 24. Baltimore 25. Cleveland 26. New Orleans ( a lot denser then it looks ) 27. Indianapolis 28. Kansas City 29. Phoenix 30. Detroit 31. Sacramento 32. Orlando 33. Cincinnati 34. San Antonio 35. Milwaukee 36. Oakland 37. Salt Lake City 38. Memphis 39. St Louis 40. Richmond 41. Jersey City 42. Omaha 43. San Jose 44. Tulsa 45. Oklahoma City ( I dunno it just looks weird) 46. Des Moines 47. Jacksonville (needs more height) 48. Birmingham 49. Louisville 50. Providence

No way Dallas is over Atl.

SpawnOfVulcan · #7 Posted **May 26, 2024, 4:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigstick

No way Dallas is over Atl.

Sadly, I agree with him.

north 42 · #8 Posted **May 26, 2024, 1:02 PM**

Phoenix over Detroit? No!

chris08876 · #9 Posted **May 26, 2024, 1:47 PM**

I thought Atlanta was quite special. I went to the city for the first time approximately 3 years ago and was quite charmed by it.

Sure its not the biggest but on the aesthetic front, has good qualities to it. That combined with the tree canopy depending on the angle, has a uniqueness to it. Criminally underrated city that doesn't get talked enough about IMO.

I remember driving around at night, thats where it really shines, especially from afar.

Atlanta, Georgia Downtown Skyline Panorama Aerial View by David Oppenheimer, on Flickr

BlueDot · #10 Posted **May 26, 2024, 2:10 PM**

Give me your rankings guys. What are your top 50?

chris08876 · #11 Posted **May 26, 2024, 2:35 PM**

Top 50 is a lot, very lazy due to partying last night, so top 10!

1) NYC
2) Seattle
3) San Francisco
4) Chicago
5) Philly
6) Atlanta
7) Miami
8) Boston
9) Pittsburgh
10) Los Angeles

All personal opinion as of 2024. My top 10.

Philly scores high because at night, it really shines. San Francisco has beautiful aesthetics as does Seattle.

SWDC · #12 Posted **May 26, 2024, 2:40 PM**

I’m also lazy so I won’t do 50 but:

1.) NY
2.) San Francisco
3.) Chicago
4.) Philadelphia
5.) Seattle
6.) Boston
7.) Miami
8.) Minneapolis
9.) Atlanta
10.) Denver

Low & mid rise density really adds to a skyline aesthetics to me (in addition to natural setting). Hence Atlanta is a more modest 9 than some might give it. Just my aesthetic preference.

iheartthed · #13 Posted **May 26, 2024, 3:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by north 42

Phoenix over Detroit? No!

I didn't know Phoenix had a skyline...

iheartthed · #14 Posted **May 26, 2024, 3:55 PM**

We've done this before... and I'll do it again. But only top 10 that will also include Canadian cities, because why not?

New York
Chicago
Toronto
Philadelphia
San Francisco
Seattle
Miami
Vancouver
Boston
Atlanta

IluvATX · #15 Posted **May 26, 2024, 4:07 PM**

Only 10 because I am lazy as well.

1. NYC
2. Chicago
3. Philly
4. Seattle
5. Miami
6. LA
7. San Francisco
8. Atlanta
9. Austin
10. Houston

bilbao58 · #16 Posted **May 26, 2024, 2:44 PM**

...

Crawford · #17 Posted **May 26, 2024, 4:35 PM**

Phoenix cannot be over Detroit. That's crazy talk. Phoenix, relative to size, has a terrible skyline, with minimal height, volume and architectural distinction.

And I know it's all subjective, but it's hard for me to envision a reasonable ranking that doesn't have NYC at 1, Chicago at 2, and Philly, Seattle, SF and LA in some order for the next four. And then Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Miami in the next group.

homebucket · #18 Posted **May 27, 2024, 12:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crawford

And I know it's all subjective, but it's hard for me to envision a reasonable ranking that doesn't have NYC at 1, Chicago at 2, and Philly, Seattle, SF and LA in some order for the next four. And then Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Miami in the next group.

Yes, this seems to track with a similar exercise we did 18 months ago. It's pretty hard to do a top 50, but so far the results coming in over the past couple days seems to reinforce the previous power rankings.

I would say that NYC, Chicago, and SF have a pretty secure grasp on the 1, 2, and 3 rankings, respectively. LA and Philly are pretty close at 4 and 5, then some order of Seattle, Pittsburgh, Miami, Houston, and then Atlanta, Boston, Dallas.

Quote:

Originally Posted by homebucket

1. NYC - 1.36 (SD = 0.95)

2. Chicago - 2.13 (SD = 1.01)

3. SF - 4.09 (SD = 1.78)

4. LA - 4.90 (SD = 2.07)
5. Philly - 5.23 (SD = 1.54)

6. Seattle - 5.84 (SD = 2.32)
7. Pittsburgh - 6.22 (SD = 2.64)
8. Miami - 6.40 (SD = 2.10)
9. Houston - 6.47 (SD = 2.03)

10. Atlanta - 8.42 (SD = 1.83)
11. Boston - 9.00 (SD = 0.89)
12. Dallas - 9.11 (SD = 1.27)

Buckeye Native 001 · #19 Posted **May 26, 2024, 5:54 PM**

Jacksonville.

JManc · #20 Posted **May 26, 2024, 6:02 PM**

Dallas or Austin over Houston?

Banned...