01 · the cities
Hartford
Hartford is the insurance capital of America (Aetna, Travelers, the works), with the steeple of the Travelers building visible from miles away. Mark Twain wrote Huckleberry Finn in his weird and wonderful Hartford house, now a museum. The Connecticut River curves past downtown, and the surrounding small towns are New England postcard material. Quieter than its neighbors, with serious history.
full dispatch→Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs sits at the foot of Pikes Peak (which inspired America the Beautiful), with the Garden of the Gods' red rock formations rising on the city's western edge. The Air Force Academy chapel is one of the most striking pieces of modernist religious architecture in the country. It's drier and sunnier than people expect, with strong evangelical and military communities shaping the city's character. Outdoorsy in a quiet way.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,931/mo
$1,733/mo
$198/mo less than Hartford (11%)
Median home price
Median home price
$411k
$463k
$51k more than Hartford
State income tax
State income tax
5.5%
4.4%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,944/mo
$6,234/mo
Colorado Springs has $290/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
148 days
184 days
36 more than Hartford
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
47 days
75 days
days below 20°F per year
Colorado Springs drops below 20°F on 28 more days per year than Hartford.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
67 / 100
71 / 100
4.0 pts ahead of Hartford
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
26 routes
11 routes
15 fewer direct routes than Hartford
Metro size
Metro size
1.2M metro
769k metro
Hartford has 1.5x fewer events per month than Colorado Springs.
the verdict
3
Hartford
categories won
5
Colorado Springs
categories won
Colorado Springs leads on money and wins overall.
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