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→Roanoke
Roanoke is the Star City of the South, named for the enormous illuminated star on Mill Mountain that's been lighting up the valley since 1949. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs right past town. The downtown has come back beautifully with the Taubman Museum, breweries, and a thriving market. The surrounding mountains are gorgeous in every season. Smaller and more scenic than people expect.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,767/mo
$1,382/mo
$1,385/mo less than Bridgeport (100%)
Median home price
Median home price
$768k
$296k
$472k less than Bridgeport
State income tax
State income tax
5.5%
5.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,108/mo
$6,472/mo
Roanoke has $1,364/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
179 days
7 more than Bridgeport
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
2 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
15 days
21 days
days below 20°F per year
Roanoke drops below 20°F on 6 more days per year than Bridgeport.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
64 / 100
69 / 100
5.0 pts ahead of Bridgeport
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
1 routes
9 routes
8 more direct routes than Bridgeport
Metro size
Metro size
952k metro
314k metro
Bridgeport has 1.7x fewer events per month than Roanoke.
the verdict
2
Bridgeport
categories won
6
Roanoke
categories won
Roanoke leads on money and lifestyle and wins overall.
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