01 · the cities
Chattanooga
Chattanooga became the first city in the country to roll out gigabit fiber internet to every home (2010, via the municipal utility), which jump-started a tech and remote-work scene. Lookout Mountain rises right above town, with Ruby Falls' underground waterfall and Rock City's epic views. The Tennessee Riverwalk is gorgeous. The Choo Choo (old terminal turned hotel) is a fun stay.
full dispatch→Reading
Reading is the Pagoda lit up on Mount Penn (a Japanese-style pavilion built in 1908 that's become the city symbol), old factory bones, and the surrounding Berks County farmland. The downtown food and art scene is growing into the old factory bones, with breweries and galleries opening steadily. Pretzels, scrapple, and Pennsylvania Dutch baking are everywhere. Cheaper than nearby Lancaster.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,524/mo
$1,478/mo
Median home price
Median home price
$322k
$311k
$11k less than Chattanooga
State income tax
State income tax
0%
3.1%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,809/mo
$6,600/mo
Chattanooga has $209/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
167 days
157 days
10 fewer than Chattanooga
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
16 days
2 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
5 days
32 days
days below 20°F per year
Chattanooga has 14 more days above 95°F each year than Reading. Reading drops below 20°F on 27 more days per year than Chattanooga.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
69 / 100
65 / 100
4.0 pts behind Chattanooga
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
8 routes
0 routes
8 fewer direct routes than Chattanooga
Metro size
Metro size
580k metro
433k metro
Chattanooga has 1.3x fewer events per month than Reading.
the verdict
6
Chattanooga
categories won
2
Reading
categories won
Chattanooga leads on money and weather and lifestyle and wins overall.
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