01 · the cities
Columbia
Columbia is the South Carolina capital, USC Gamecock country, and home to one of the largest urban rivers (the Congaree) flowing right past downtown. The Saluda River outside town is a tubing destination locals swear by, and Congaree National Park's old-growth cypress is a 30-minute drive. The state museum is a sleeper good time. Slower-paced than Charleston, less touristy.
full dispatch→Greensboro
Greensboro was the site of the 1960 Woolworth sit-in (the original lunch counter is preserved at the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, downtown). Four major colleges feed the city, the food scene leans BBQ and good coffee, and the surrounding Piedmont rolls gently in every direction. It's the geographic center of North Carolina, which makes it a useful base for everything else in the state.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,551/mo
$1,428/mo
$123/mo less than Columbia (9%)
Median home price
Median home price
$255k
$269k
$14k more than Columbia
State income tax
State income tax
6.5%
4.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,241/mo
$6,530/mo
Greensboro has $289/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
189 days
189 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
27 days
8 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
2 days
6 days
days below 20°F per year
Columbia has 19 more days above 95°F each year than Greensboro.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
55 / 100
54 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
10 routes
14 routes
4 more direct routes than Columbia
Metro size
Metro size
857k metro
790k metro
Columbia has 2.6x fewer events per month than Greensboro.
the verdict
1
Columbia
categories won
5
Greensboro
categories won
Greensboro wins this comparison, leading on money and weather.
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