01 · the cities
Kennewick
Kennewick is part of the Tri-Cities (with Pasco and Richland), sitting at the confluence of the Columbia, Snake, and Yakima rivers in eastern Washington. The Columbia Valley wine region (Walla Walla is 45 minutes east) is one of the most acclaimed in the country. It's sunny, dry, and much cheaper than the Seattle side. The Hanford Reach is a hauntingly beautiful stretch of the Columbia. Underrated.
full dispatch→Salem
Salem is the Oregon state capital, smaller and quieter than Portland (less than an hour north), with the Willamette River running through downtown and the surrounding Willamette Valley producing some of the best Pinot Noir in the world. The state capitol is topped by a gold-leaf pioneer statue. Cherry blossoms line the riverfront every spring. Affordable and underrated.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,686/mo
$1,642/mo
Median home price
Median home price
$441k
$452k
$11k more than Kennewick
State income tax
State income tax
0%
8.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,647/mo
$5,962/mo
Kennewick has $685/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
199 days
201 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
26 days
2 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
8 days
1 days
days below 20°F per year
Kennewick has 24 more days above 95°F each year than Salem. Kennewick drops below 20°F on 7 more days per year than Salem.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
74 / 100
69 / 100
5.0 pts behind Kennewick
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
8 routes
0 routes
8 fewer direct routes than Kennewick
Metro size
Metro size
314k metro
437k metro
Kennewick and Salem have similar event volume.
the verdict
5
Kennewick
categories won
2
Salem
categories won
Kennewick wins on money and lifestyle. Salem has the edge on weather.
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