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→Detroit
Detroit is Motown, techno's birthplace, auto-industry bones, and a comeback story that's actually happening. Coney dogs come with chili and onions, the riverfront looks across at Canada (yes, Canada is south of Detroit), and the murals in Eastern Market could fill an art book. Cass Corridor, Corktown, Mexicantown: every neighborhood feels like its own city. The architecture downtown is genuinely jaw-dropping.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,145/mo
$1,472/mo
$1,673/mo less than Boston (114%)
Median home price
Median home price
$771k
$262k
$509k less than Boston
State income tax
State income tax
5.0%
4.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,772/mo
$6,507/mo
Detroit has $1,735/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
160 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
2 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
33 days
37 days
days below 20°F per year
Boston and Detroit have remarkably similar weather profiles overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
71 / 100
47 / 100
24.0 pts behind Boston
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
103 routes
135 routes
32 more direct routes than Boston
Metro size
Metro size
4.9M metro
4.3M metro
Boston has 1.9x more events per month than Detroit.
the verdict
1
Boston
categories won
5
Detroit
categories won
Detroit wins this comparison, leading on money.
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