01 · the cities
Duluth
Duluth sits on the western tip of Lake Superior, with the iconic Aerial Lift Bridge lifting for ships entering the harbor. Bob Dylan was born here. The lakefront walking path goes for miles. Canal Park has the local food and brewery scene. Summer hiking, kayaking, and shoreline views are jaw-dropping, and winter turns the city into a snow-lit lakeside cathedral. Wild and beautiful.
full dispatch→Syracuse
Syracuse averages around 120 inches of snow per year, which is the most of any major U.S. city, and locals wear it like a badge. The Carrier Dome (now JMA Wireless Dome) is the largest on-campus arena in the country. The food scene leans Italian (Salt City was an Italian immigrant hub) and excellent. The Finger Lakes are right next door. Bring boots.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,559/mo
$1,619/mo
$60/mo more than Duluth (4%)
Median home price
Median home price
$252k
$254k
State income tax
State income tax
7.8%
5.9%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,120/mo
$6,227/mo
Syracuse has $107/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
132 days
142 days
10 more than Duluth
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
105 days
53 days
days below 20°F per year
Duluth drops below 20°F on 52 more days per year than Syracuse.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
73 / 100
59 / 100
14.0 pts behind Duluth
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
4 routes
16 routes
12 more direct routes than Duluth
Metro size
Metro size
282k metro
653k metro
Duluth has 2.3x fewer events per month than Syracuse.
the verdict
2
Duluth
categories won
5
Syracuse
categories won
Syracuse leads on money and weather and wins overall.
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