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→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
$3,145/mo
$1,733/mo
$1,412/mo less than Boston (81%)
Median home price
Median home price
$771k
$463k
$308k less than Boston
State income tax
State income tax
5.0%
4.4%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,772/mo
$6,234/mo
Colorado Springs has $1,462/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
184 days
24 more than Boston
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
2 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
33 days
75 days
days below 20°F per year
Colorado Springs drops below 20°F on 42 more days per year than Boston.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
71 / 100
71 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
103 routes
11 routes
92 fewer direct routes than Boston
Metro size
Metro size
4.9M metro
769k metro
Boston has 3.9x more events per month than Colorado Springs.
the verdict
2
Boston
categories won
5
Colorado Springs
categories won
Colorado Springs wins on money. Boston has the edge on lifestyle.
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