01 · the cities
Cincinnati
Cincinnati is chili served on spaghetti (Skyline and Gold Star will fight you about which is better), German heritage in Over-the-Rhine's beer halls, and a riverfront that looks straight across at Kentucky. OTR's brick warehouses have become one of the best urban revitalizations in the country. The Reds play in baseball's oldest professional city. Pronounce it correctly and the locals warm up fast.
full dispatch→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→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,549/mo
$1,374/mo
$175/mo less than Cincinnati (13%)
Median home price
Median home price
$316k
$280k
$36k less than Cincinnati
State income tax
State income tax
4.0%
5.9%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,452/mo
$6,472/mo
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
162 days
152 days
10 fewer than Cincinnati
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
3 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
26 days
42 days
days below 20°F per year
Buffalo drops below 20°F on 16 more days per year than Cincinnati.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
72 / 100
66 / 100
6.0 pts behind Cincinnati
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
47 routes
20 routes
27 fewer direct routes than Cincinnati
Metro size
Metro size
2.3M metro
1.2M metro
Cincinnati has 1.3x more events per month than Buffalo.
the verdict
5
Cincinnati
categories won
3
Buffalo
categories won
Cincinnati wins on weather and lifestyle. Buffalo has the edge on money.
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