What is the difference between で and に when it comes to words like 溢れる?


I came across this sentence, and I was wondering, how would the nuance change
if I changed the で to に?  
この街は異邦人 **で** あふれている  
  
この街は異邦人 **に** あふれている




There is not clearcut distinction, but roughly,

  * に is less frequently used in speech
  * に is used more often with non-tangible objects.

Conversely, I feel で is kind of more neutral.

To me, 異邦人にあふれている is a little odd, possibly because 異邦人 is a physical object.

Most common examples with に would be やさしさ/活気/希望にあふれた ( _full of
tenderness/liveliness/hope_ ).

* * *

Note that に can be the standard location particle as in 世の中 **に** あふれた怪しい話
(literally _fishy stories of which there's plenty **in** the world_).




There is not clearcut distinction, but roughly,

  * に is less frequently used in speech
  * に is used more often with non-tangible objects.

Conversely, I feel で is kind of more neutral.

To me, 異邦人にあふれている is a little odd, possibly because 異邦人 is a physical object.

Most common examples with に would be やさしさ/活気/希望にあふれた ( _full of
tenderness/liveliness/hope_ ).

* * *

Note that に can be the standard location particle as in 世の中 **に** あふれた怪しい話
(literally _fishy stories of which there's plenty **in** the world_).

