01 · the cities
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is 88 cities pretending to be one, connected by freeways and a shared love of really good tacos. Every neighborhood is its own scene: surfers in Venice, the Korean grandmas of K-town, mountains rising behind Pasadena, Persian rugs in Westwood. The light at golden hour is so good it makes Instagram filters jealous. Roll the windows down at golden hour, put on a playlist, and let the city stretch out.
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
$2,899/mo
$2,216/mo
$683/mo less than Los Angeles (31%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$783k
$246k less than Los Angeles
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
4.4%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,659/mo
$5,751/mo
Boulder has $1,092/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
283 days
178 days
105 fewer than Los Angeles
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
19 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
Los Angeles has 6 more days above 95°F each year than Boulder. Boulder drops below 20°F on 42 more days per year than Los Angeles.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
67 / 100
79 / 100
12.0 pts ahead of Los Angeles
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
150 routes
169 routes
19 more direct routes than Los Angeles
Metro size
Metro size
12.8M metro
327k metro
Los Angeles has 58.0x more events per month than Boulder.
the verdict
2
Los Angeles
categories won
7
Boulder
categories won
Boulder wins on money and lifestyle. Los Angeles has the edge on weather.
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