01 · the cities
Honolulu
Honolulu is Waikiki's high-rises pressed against turquoise water, Diamond Head crater glowing pink at dawn, and plate lunches that mix Hawaiian, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, and Portuguese into one perfect styrofoam container. Surf the south shore in summer, the north in winter. The North Shore is a 45-minute drive into a totally different world. Aloha here is a way of moving through the day.
full dispatch→Boulder
Boulder is the Flatirons rising right behind town, the Pearl Street Mall pedestrian shopping, and a population that runs more, climbs more, and bikes more than basically any other American city. CU keeps it young, the foothills keep it active, and the food scene leans organic-virtuous. The access to the Rockies is unmatched and the sunshine is relentless, and locals invest in the city like it's a lifestyle, not just an address.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,843/mo
$2,216/mo
$627/mo less than Honolulu (28%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$783k
$278k less than Honolulu
State income tax
State income tax
11.0%
4.4%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,574/mo
$5,751/mo
Boulder has $1,177/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
316 days
178 days
138 fewer than Honolulu
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
13 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
42 days
days below 20°F per year
Boulder has 13 more days above 95°F each year than Honolulu. Boulder drops below 20°F on 42 more days per year than Honolulu.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
55 / 100
79 / 100
24.0 pts ahead of Honolulu
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
51 routes
169 routes
118 more direct routes than Honolulu
Metro size
Metro size
989k metro
327k metro
Honolulu has 15.8x more events per month than Boulder.
the verdict
3
Honolulu
categories won
6
Boulder
categories won
Boulder wins on money and lifestyle. Honolulu has the edge on weather.
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