Large coastal cities aren't a hotbed of religion. For that, you want rural South/Midwest (aka the "Bible Belt"). For example, I live in a small rural midwestern town, with a population of just under 800 people. We have six churches: one Catholic, one ELCA Lutheran, one LCMS Lutheran, one Evangelical Free, one Assembly of God, and one Methodist.

And at least NY and DC HAVE functional/useful public transit systems, most places (even large cities) don't!