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→Boulder
Boulder is the Flatirons rising right behind town, the Pearl Street Mall pedestrian shopping, and a population that runs more, climbs more, and bikes more than basically any other American city. CU keeps it young, the foothills keep it active, and the food scene leans organic-virtuous. The access to the Rockies is unmatched and the sunshine is relentless, and locals invest in the city like it's a lifestyle, not just an address.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,145/mo
$2,216/mo
$929/mo less than Boston (42%)
Median home price
Median home price
$771k
$783k
$12k more than Boston
State income tax
State income tax
5.0%
4.4%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,772/mo
$5,751/mo
Boulder has $979/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
178 days
18 more than Boston
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
2 days
13 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
33 days
42 days
days below 20°F per year
Boulder has 11 more days above 95°F each year than Boston. Boulder drops below 20°F on 9 more days per year than Boston.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
71 / 100
79 / 100
8.0 pts ahead of Boston
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
103 routes
169 routes
66 more direct routes than Boston
Metro size
Metro size
4.9M metro
327k metro
Boston has 28.0x more events per month than Boulder.
the verdict
3
Boston
categories won
6
Boulder
categories won
Boulder wins on money and lifestyle. Boston has the edge on weather.
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