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→Madison
Madison sits on an isthmus between two lakes, with the state capitol gleaming on one end and the University of Wisconsin sprawling on the other. The Saturday farmers market around the Capitol Square is one of the best in the country. Cheese curds, brats, and beer are mandatory food groups. The Terrace at Memorial Union, looking out at Lake Mendota, is the unofficial heart of the city in summer.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,145/mo
$1,673/mo
$1,472/mo less than Boston (88%)
Median home price
Median home price
$771k
$465k
$306k less than Boston
State income tax
State income tax
5.0%
6.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,772/mo
$6,138/mo
Madison has $1,366/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
147 days
13 fewer 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
71 days
days below 20°F per year
Madison drops below 20°F on 38 more days per year than Boston.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
71 / 100
67 / 100
4.0 pts behind Boston
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
103 routes
11 routes
92 fewer direct routes than Boston
Metro size
Metro size
4.9M metro
694k metro
Boston has 4.2x more events per month than Madison.
the verdict
5
Boston
categories won
3
Madison
categories won
Boston wins on weather and lifestyle. Madison has the edge on money.
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