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→Washington
Washington DC is power dressed in seersucker. The monuments glow at night, the Smithsonian museums are all free (yes, all of them), and the cherry blossoms in April make even cynical lobbyists pause for a selfie. It's one of the most international cities in America (embassies from everywhere), with food scenes to match. The vibe shifts every four years and the architecture stays magnificent through all of it.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,145/mo
$2,352/mo
$793/mo less than Boston (34%)
Median home price
Median home price
$771k
$626k
$145k less than Boston
State income tax
State income tax
5.0%
8.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,772/mo
$5,273/mo
Washington has $501/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
177 days
17 more than Boston
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
2 days
4 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
33 days
11 days
days below 20°F per year
Boston drops below 20°F on 22 more days per year than Washington.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
71 / 100
87 / 100
16.0 pts ahead of Boston
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
103 routes
160 routes
57 more direct routes than Boston
Metro size
Metro size
4.9M metro
6.3M metro
Boston and Washington have similar event volume.
the verdict
1
Boston
categories won
7
Washington
categories won
Washington wins this comparison, leading on money and weather.
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