$100k a year, no longer in Houston

change
Washington, DC cityscape

swapping out of houston

Washington

dc · metro 6.3M

a dispatch from

washington

DC

38.91°N

77.04°W

Washington DC is power dressed in seersucker. The monuments glow at night, the Smithsonian museums are all free (yes, all of them), and the cherry blossoms in April make even cynical lobbyists pause for a selfie. It's one of the most international cities in America (embassies from everywhere), with food scenes to match. The vibe shifts every four years and the architecture stays magnificent through all of it.

metro6.3M

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,450

more each month than Houston ran you

Washington is the expensive option. The argument has to be entirely about the place, not the price.
landable, recorded on the washington entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$2,352/mo

46% more expensive than Houston(vs $1,610/mo)

02state income tax

8.5%

$708/mo more in state tax than Houston

vs 0% in Houston

03after rent

$5,273/mo

$1,450 less than Houston

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$626k

101% more expensive than Houston

vs $311k in Houston

05metro size

6.3M

vs 7.5M in Houston

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

177

pleasant days a year, in washington.

Houston only logs 171 pleasant days.

A similar weekend lineup to Houston.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

58% higher than Houston

vs 55/100 in Houston

Closest outdoor draw: George Washington Memorial Parkway, 6.2 mi.

·walk score®

98/100

27% higher than Houston

vs 77/100 in Houston

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

160

9% fewer than Houston

vs 176 nonstops in Houston

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as washington:

compare washington with: