with $100k coming in, swapping out of St. Louis
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 St. Louis
A small premium for Grand Rapids. Worth it only if the rest of the city earns it back.
a quick ledger.
$1,620/mo
15% more expensive than St. Louis(vs $1,411/mo)
4.25%
$37/mo less in state tax than St. Louis
vs 4.7% in St. Louis
$6,359/mo
$172 less than St. Louis
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$353k
28% more expensive than St. Louis
vs $277k in St. Louis
1.2M
vs 2.8M in St. Louis
field notes, weather & such.
151
pleasant days a year, in grand rapids.
St. Louis actually gets more: 174 pleasant days a year. Winter shows up, though: 50 days below 20° vs St. Louis's 22.
On par with St. Louis for events and shows.
56/100
18% lower than St. Louis
vs 68/100 in St. Louis
Closest outdoor draw: White Pine Trail State Park, 5.4 mi.
97/100
11% higher than St. Louis
vs 87/100 in St. Louis
20
67% fewer than St. Louis
vs 60 nonstops in St. Louis
in the same ballpark as grand rapids:
