01 · the cities
Boulder
Boulder is the Flatirons rising right behind town, the Pearl Street Mall pedestrian shopping, and a population that runs more, climbs more, and bikes more than basically any other American city. CU keeps it young, the foothills keep it active, and the food scene leans organic-virtuous. The access to the Rockies is unmatched and the sunshine is relentless, and locals invest in the city like it's a lifestyle, not just an address.
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
$2,216/mo
$2,352/mo
$136/mo more than Boulder (6%)
Median home price
Median home price
$783k
$626k
$157k less than Boulder
State income tax
State income tax
4.4%
8.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,751/mo
$5,273/mo
Boulder has $478/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
178 days
177 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
13 days
4 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
42 days
11 days
days below 20°F per year
Boulder has 9 more days above 95°F each year than Washington. Boulder drops below 20°F on 31 more days per year than Washington.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
79 / 100
87 / 100
8.0 pts ahead of Boulder
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
169 routes
160 routes
9 fewer direct routes than Boulder
Metro size
Metro size
327k metro
6.3M metro
Boulder has 26.8x fewer events per month than Washington.
the verdict
4
Boulder
categories won
4
Washington
categories won
Boulder wins on money, Washington wins on weather. Dead even.
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