01 · the cities
Boston
Boston is brick sidewalks, dive bars older than most states, and an accent that turns 'park the car' into a love language. The city is densely packed with colleges (Harvard, MIT, BU, BC, plus 30 more), which keeps it perpetually 22 years old in spirit. The Freedom Trail literally paints a red line through 400 years of American history. Dunkin' is not a chain here, it's a way of life.
full dispatch→Akron
Akron was the Rubber City (Goodyear, Firestone, BFGoodrich all built here), and the legacy still shapes its industrial bones. LeBron James is from Akron and never forgets it. The Goodyear blimp is based in town. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is just north, with waterfalls and rail-trails. Cheaper than Cleveland, with its own quiet charm.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,145/mo
$1,259/mo
$1,886/mo less than Boston (150%)
Median home price
Median home price
$771k
$236k
$534k less than Boston
State income tax
State income tax
5.0%
4.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,772/mo
$6,742/mo
Akron has $1,970/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
160 days
152 days
8 fewer than Boston
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
2 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
33 days
40 days
days below 20°F per year
Akron drops below 20°F on 7 more days per year than Boston.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
71 / 100
65 / 100
6.0 pts behind Boston
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
103 routes
11 routes
92 fewer direct routes than Boston
Metro size
Metro size
4.9M metro
698k metro
Boston has 5.1x more events per month than Akron.
the verdict
4
Boston
categories won
4
Akron
categories won
Boston wins on weather and lifestyle, Akron wins on money. Dead even.
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