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→Lexington
Lexington is the Thoroughbred horse capital of the world, with bluegrass-fed horse farms surrounding the city in white-fenced perfection. Keeneland racetrack is one of the most beautiful in the world. The bourbon trail starts right here. Downtown is small but tightening up nicely with food and bars. The University of Kentucky's blue bleeds through everything.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,843/mo
$1,488/mo
$1,355/mo less than Honolulu (91%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$324k
$737k less than Honolulu
State income tax
State income tax
11.0%
4.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,574/mo
$6,470/mo
Lexington has $1,896/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
171 days
145 fewer than Honolulu
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
19 days
days below 20°F per year
Lexington drops below 20°F on 19 more days per year than Honolulu.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
55 / 100
60 / 100
5.0 pts ahead of Honolulu
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
51 routes
13 routes
38 fewer direct routes than Honolulu
Metro size
Metro size
989k metro
520k metro
Honolulu has 2.3x more events per month than Lexington.
the verdict
3
Honolulu
categories won
5
Lexington
categories won
Lexington wins on money. Honolulu has the edge on weather.
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