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→Madison
Madison sits on an isthmus between two lakes, with the state capitol gleaming on one end and the University of Wisconsin sprawling on the other. The Saturday farmers market around the Capitol Square is one of the best in the country. Cheese curds, brats, and beer are mandatory food groups. The Terrace at Memorial Union, looking out at Lake Mendota, is the unofficial heart of the city in summer.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,843/mo
$1,673/mo
$1,170/mo less than Honolulu (70%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$465k
$597k less than Honolulu
State income tax
State income tax
11.0%
6.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,574/mo
$6,138/mo
Madison has $1,564/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
147 days
169 fewer than Honolulu
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
71 days
days below 20°F per year
Madison drops below 20°F on 71 more days per year than Honolulu.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
55 / 100
67 / 100
12.0 pts ahead of Honolulu
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
51 routes
11 routes
40 fewer direct routes than Honolulu
Metro size
Metro size
989k metro
694k metro
Honolulu has 2.4x more events per month than Madison.
the verdict
3
Honolulu
categories won
5
Madison
categories won
Madison wins on money. Honolulu has the edge on weather.
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