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→Milwaukee
Milwaukee is beer (the Pabst and Miller legacy still hangs in the air), bratwurst (with the proper amount of mustard, please), and a Lake Michigan shoreline that goes on forever. Frozen custard is a regional specialty and a serious one. The Calatrava-designed art museum has wings that literally open and close on Lake Michigan. Friendly here means you'll have a new friend by the second beer.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,145/mo
$1,504/mo
$1,641/mo less than Boston (109%)
Median home price
Median home price
$771k
$394k
$376k less than Boston
State income tax
State income tax
5.0%
6.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,772/mo
$6,307/mo
Milwaukee has $1,535/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
149 days
11 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
62 days
days below 20°F per year
Milwaukee drops below 20°F on 29 more days per year than Boston.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
71 / 100
61 / 100
10.0 pts behind Boston
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
103 routes
30 routes
73 fewer direct routes than Boston
Metro size
Metro size
4.9M metro
1.6M metro
Boston has 2.4x more events per month than Milwaukee.
the verdict
5
Boston
categories won
3
Milwaukee
categories won
Boston wins on weather and lifestyle. Milwaukee has the edge on money.
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