01 · the cities
Albany
Albany is one of the oldest chartered cities in America (1686), with the New York state capitol building wearing every architectural style from Romanesque to Victorian on different sides. The Hudson River and the surrounding Adirondacks and Berkshires give it a serious nature backbone. Five colleges feed in young energy, and Lark Street is the local main drag for food and bars. Quieter than its neighbors, and full of layers.
full dispatch→Madison
Madison sits on an isthmus between two lakes, with the state capitol gleaming on one end and the University of Wisconsin sprawling on the other. The Saturday farmers market around the Capitol Square is one of the best in the country. Cheese curds, brats, and beer are mandatory food groups. The Terrace at Memorial Union, looking out at Lake Mendota, is the unofficial heart of the city in summer.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,643/mo
$1,673/mo
Median home price
Median home price
$361k
$465k
$103k more than Albany
State income tax
State income tax
5.9%
6.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,203/mo
$6,138/mo
Albany has $65/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
147 days
147 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
62 days
71 days
days below 20°F per year
Madison drops below 20°F on 9 more days per year than Albany.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
72 / 100
67 / 100
5.0 pts behind Albany
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
19 routes
11 routes
8 fewer direct routes than Albany
Metro size
Metro size
905k metro
694k metro
Albany has 1.5x fewer events per month than Madison.
the verdict
6
Albany
categories won
0
Madison
categories won
Albany wins this comparison, leading on money and weather.
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