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→Memphis
Memphis is dry-rub ribs, Beale Street neon, and the rooms where Stax and Sun Records changed pop music forever. Graceland is a tourist pilgrimage that's still genuinely moving. The Mississippi rolls past, the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel is essential, and the BBQ debate (rib joints vs. the chopped-pork houses) is a local pastime. Soulful in the literal sense.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,145/mo
$1,436/mo
$1,709/mo less than Boston (119%)
Median home price
Median home price
$771k
$244k
$527k less than Boston
State income tax
State income tax
5.0%
0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,772/mo
$6,897/mo
Memphis has $2,125/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
185 days
25 more than Boston
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
2 days
6 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
33 days
5 days
days below 20°F per year
Boston drops below 20°F on 28 more days per year than Memphis.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
71 / 100
56 / 100
15.0 pts behind Boston
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
103 routes
32 routes
71 fewer direct routes than Boston
Metro size
Metro size
4.9M metro
1.3M metro
Boston has 4.7x more events per month than Memphis.
the verdict
2
Boston
categories won
6
Memphis
categories won
Memphis wins on money and weather. Boston has the edge on lifestyle.
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