01 · the cities
Boise
Boise is basically Denver before Denver got Denver-y: walkable downtown, foothills you can run into on your lunch break, and a river slicing right through the middle of town. The Basque Block downtown anchors the biggest Basque community in the U.S., which nobody sees coming. The vibe is 'we close our laptops and go outside,' and the trails make that very easy to do. Locals would prefer you didn't tell anyone.
full dispatch→Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs sits at the foot of Pikes Peak (which inspired America the Beautiful), with the Garden of the Gods' red rock formations rising on the city's western edge. The Air Force Academy chapel is one of the most striking pieces of modernist religious architecture in the country. It's drier and sunnier than people expect, with strong evangelical and military communities shaping the city's character. Outdoorsy in a quiet way.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,794/mo
$1,733/mo
$61/mo less than Boise (4%)
Median home price
Median home price
$490k
$463k
$28k less than Boise
State income tax
State income tax
5.8%
4.4%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,056/mo
$6,234/mo
Colorado Springs has $178/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
166 days
184 days
18 more than Boise
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
27 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
24 days
75 days
days below 20°F per year
Boise has 27 more days above 95°F each year than Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs drops below 20°F on 51 more days per year than Boise.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
82 / 100
71 / 100
11.0 pts behind Boise
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
16 routes
11 routes
5 fewer direct routes than Boise
Metro size
Metro size
827k metro
769k metro
Boise has 1.1x fewer events per month than Colorado Springs.
the verdict
3
Boise
categories won
6
Colorado Springs
categories won
Colorado Springs wins on money and weather. Boise has the edge on lifestyle.
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