01 · the cities
Bridgeport
Bridgeport is the largest city in Connecticut, sitting on Long Island Sound with a working harbor and a real waterfront. P.T. Barnum lived here and the city's museum still pays tribute to his weird genius. It's a quick train ride to New York, with much cheaper housing and proper New England summers. The food scene punches above its weight, with old-school Portuguese and Brazilian spots packed every weekend.
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
$2,767/mo
$1,673/mo
$1,094/mo less than Bridgeport (65%)
Median home price
Median home price
$768k
$465k
$303k less than Bridgeport
State income tax
State income tax
5.5%
6.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,108/mo
$6,138/mo
Madison has $1,030/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
172 days
147 days
25 fewer than Bridgeport
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
15 days
71 days
days below 20°F per year
Madison drops below 20°F on 56 more days per year than Bridgeport.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
64 / 100
67 / 100
3.0 pts ahead of Bridgeport
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
1 routes
11 routes
10 more direct routes than Bridgeport
Metro size
Metro size
952k metro
694k metro
Bridgeport has 5.7x fewer events per month than Madison.
the verdict
3
Bridgeport
categories won
5
Madison
categories won
Madison wins on money and lifestyle. Bridgeport has the edge on weather.
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