01 · the cities
Buffalo
Buffalo invented the wing (Anchor Bar, 1964, midnight, blue cheese, celery, not negotiable) and that should tell you most of what you need to know about the city's spirit. The Bills Mafia jumps through tables in subzero parking lots. Niagara Falls is 20 minutes away. The architecture (Sullivan, Wright, Olmsted parks) is genuinely world-class. The snow is part of the local mythology and the locals wear it proudly.
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
$1,374/mo
$1,504/mo
$130/mo more than Buffalo (9%)
Median home price
Median home price
$280k
$394k
$115k more than Buffalo
State income tax
State income tax
5.9%
6.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,472/mo
$6,307/mo
Buffalo has $165/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
152 days
149 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
42 days
62 days
days below 20°F per year
Milwaukee drops below 20°F on 20 more days per year than Buffalo.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
66 / 100
61 / 100
5.0 pts behind Buffalo
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
20 routes
30 routes
10 more direct routes than Buffalo
Metro size
Metro size
1.2M metro
1.6M metro
Buffalo and Milwaukee have similar event volume.
the verdict
6
Buffalo
categories won
1
Milwaukee
categories won
Buffalo wins this comparison, leading on money and weather.
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