Not sure that's true. I was born and brought up in York, which is heavy on tourism (important from Roman Britain to the late mediaeval, with buildings and archaeology to match). But it's also an ordinary, livable, small city. It's a railway centre, makes chocolate, and has two universities. Definitely still 'lived in'.

Of course, if you spend time around York Minster (the cathedral), or Stonegate, or the Yorvik Viking Centre, you're going to be surrounded by tourists. And the place is more expensive than it would be without the history.