with $100k coming in, swapping out of Houston
changea dispatch from
grand rapids
MI
42.96°N
85.67°W
Grand Rapids has won Beer City USA multiple times, hosts ArtPrize (one of the world's largest open art competitions every fall), and built itself on furniture (Steelcase, Herman Miller). The Frederik Meijer Sculpture Park is a sleeper world-class attraction. Downtown is walkable, the surrounding farmland is gorgeous in autumn, and Lake Michigan beaches are 30 minutes west. Quietly excellent.
the verdict
the monthly premium over Houston
Grand Rapids costs meaningfully more. Whether it earns that back in the day-to-day is the actual question.
a quick ledger.
$1,620/mo
1% more expensive than Houston(vs $1,610/mo)
4.25%
$354/mo more in state tax than Houston
vs 0% in Houston
$6,359/mo
$364 less than Houston
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$353k
13% more expensive than Houston
vs $311k in Houston
1.2M
vs 7.5M in Houston
field notes, weather & such.
151
pleasant days a year, in grand rapids.
Houston actually gets more: 171 pleasant days a year. The trade is winter: 50 days below 20°, vs 1 in Houston.
Houston hosts 3.1× more events.
56/100
2% higher than Houston
vs 55/100 in Houston
Closest outdoor draw: White Pine Trail State Park, 5.4 mi.
97/100
26% higher than Houston
vs 77/100 in Houston
20
89% fewer than Houston
vs 176 nonstops in Houston
neighbors of grand rapids on the map of tradeoffs:
