01 · the cities
Birmingham
Birmingham was built on steel and reshaped by the civil rights movement, and you can feel both stories in the city. The Civil Rights Institute is essential, the food scene (Highlands Bar and Grill, Hot and Hot Fish Club, plenty more) is one of the most acclaimed in the South. The Vulcan statue, the largest cast-iron statue in the world, looks down on the city from Red Mountain. Younger than its reputation suggests.
full dispatch→Tallahassee
Tallahassee feels more like south Georgia than Florida: oak canopies, rolling hills, and red clay. It's the state capital, home to Florida State (Seminole football is a religion) and FAMU, and surrounded by some of the best springs in the country (Wakulla and Wakulla Springs State Park are 20 minutes south). The food scene leans southern with serious Cuban influence. Cooler in summer than the rest of the state.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,407/mo
$1,527/mo
$120/mo more than Birmingham (8%)
Median home price
Median home price
$261k
$289k
$28k more than Birmingham
State income tax
State income tax
5.0%
0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,510/mo
$6,806/mo
Tallahassee has $296/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
171 days
186 days
15 more than Birmingham
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
28 days
35 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
4 days
0 days
days below 20°F per year
Tallahassee has 7 more days above 95°F each year than Birmingham.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
61 / 100
58 / 100
3.0 pts behind Birmingham
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
20 routes
7 routes
13 fewer direct routes than Birmingham
Metro size
Metro size
1.2M metro
393k metro
Birmingham has 45.0x more events per month than Tallahassee.
the verdict
5
Birmingham
categories won
3
Tallahassee
categories won
Birmingham leads on lifestyle and wins overall.
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