01 · the cities
Charlotte
Charlotte is banking towers (it's the second-biggest banking center in the country after NYC) wrapped in pine trees and southern hospitality. Uptown is the downtown (Charlotteans correct you on this immediately), the NASCAR Hall of Fame anchors a real motorsport scene, and the Whitewater Center lets you raft inside the city limits. Growth is fast, breweries are everywhere, and barbecue gets the Carolina vinegar treatment.
full dispatch→Detroit
Detroit is Motown, techno's birthplace, auto-industry bones, and a comeback story that's actually happening. Coney dogs come with chili and onions, the riverfront looks across at Canada (yes, Canada is south of Detroit), and the murals in Eastern Market could fill an art book. Cass Corridor, Corktown, Mexicantown: every neighborhood feels like its own city. The architecture downtown is genuinely jaw-dropping.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,728/mo
$1,472/mo
$256/mo less than Charlotte (17%)
Median home price
Median home price
$391k
$262k
$129k less than Charlotte
State income tax
State income tax
4.5%
4.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,230/mo
$6,507/mo
Detroit has $277/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
200 days
160 days
40 fewer than Charlotte
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
7 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
3 days
37 days
days below 20°F per year
Charlotte has 7 more days above 95°F each year than Detroit. Detroit drops below 20°F on 34 more days per year than Charlotte.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
51 / 100
47 / 100
4.0 pts behind Charlotte
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
141 routes
135 routes
6 fewer direct routes than Charlotte
Metro size
Metro size
2.8M metro
4.3M metro
Charlotte has 1.3x more events per month than Detroit.
the verdict
4
Charlotte
categories won
5
Detroit
categories won
Detroit wins on money. Charlotte has the edge on weather and lifestyle.
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