01 · the cities
Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids has won Beer City USA multiple times, hosts ArtPrize (one of the world's largest open art competitions every fall), and built itself on furniture (Steelcase, Herman Miller). The Frederik Meijer Sculpture Park is a sleeper world-class attraction. Downtown is walkable, the surrounding farmland is gorgeous in autumn, and Lake Michigan beaches are 30 minutes west. Quietly excellent.
full dispatch→Omaha
Omaha is the steakhouse capital of the prairie, home to Berkshire Hathaway (Warren Buffett still eats at the same Dundee diner), and the Henry Doorly Zoo, which is consistently ranked among the best in the world. The Old Market downtown is brick-and-cobblestone charm. The Reuben sandwich claims to have been invented here, and the locals will fight you on it. Friendly to a fault.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,620/mo
$1,412/mo
$208/mo less than Grand Rapids (15%)
Median home price
Median home price
$353k
$306k
$47k less than Grand Rapids
State income tax
State income tax
4.3%
5.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,359/mo
$6,435/mo
Omaha has $76/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
151 days
145 days
6 fewer than Grand Rapids
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
11 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
50 days
53 days
days below 20°F per year
Omaha has 11 more days above 95°F each year than Grand Rapids.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
56 / 100
53 / 100
3.0 pts behind Grand Rapids
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
20 routes
19 routes
Metro size
Metro size
1.2M metro
985k metro
Grand Rapids has 1.1x more events per month than Omaha.
the verdict
4
Grand Rapids
categories won
3
Omaha
categories won
Grand Rapids wins on weather and lifestyle. Omaha has the edge on money.
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