01 · the cities
Fayetteville
Fayetteville is the University of Arkansas, Razorback football (call those hogs), and the Ozark mountains rising right outside town. The Walmart and Tyson HQ are in nearby Bentonville, which has reshaped the region's economy. The downtown square farmers market is one of the country's best. The food scene has grown up fast. Surprising for the region.
full dispatch→Birmingham
Birmingham was built on steel and reshaped by the civil rights movement, and you can feel both stories in the city. The Civil Rights Institute is essential, the food scene (Highlands Bar and Grill, Hot and Hot Fish Club, plenty more) is one of the most acclaimed in the South. The Vulcan statue, the largest cast-iron statue in the world, looks down on the city from Red Mountain. Younger than its reputation suggests.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,606/mo
$1,407/mo
$199/mo less than Fayetteville (14%)
Median home price
Median home price
$367k
$261k
$107k less than Fayetteville
State income tax
State income tax
4.4%
5.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,361/mo
$6,510/mo
Birmingham has $149/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
170 days
171 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
16 days
28 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
14 days
4 days
days below 20°F per year
Birmingham has 12 more days above 95°F each year than Fayetteville. Fayetteville drops below 20°F on 10 more days per year than Birmingham.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
64 / 100
61 / 100
3.0 pts behind Fayetteville
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
14 routes
20 routes
6 more direct routes than Fayetteville
Metro size
Metro size
590k metro
1.2M metro
Fayetteville has 11.3x fewer events per month than Birmingham.
the verdict
3
Fayetteville
categories won
5
Birmingham
categories won
Birmingham leads on money and wins overall.
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