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→Columbus
Columbus is Ohio State on autumn Saturdays (the Horseshoe holds 100,000+ and they all wear scarlet), German Village's cobblestone streets and brick cottages, and a Short North gallery scene that punches well above its weight. It's quietly become a test market for the rest of America because the demographics line up so neatly. The food scene leans young, weird, and good. 'Buckeyes' here can mean either the football team or the chocolate-peanut-butter candy.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,899/mo
$1,511/mo
$1,388/mo less than Los Angeles (92%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$350k
$680k less than Los Angeles
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
4.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,659/mo
$6,490/mo
Columbus has $1,831/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
171 days
112 fewer than Los Angeles
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
19 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
29 days
days below 20°F per year
Los Angeles has 19 more days above 95°F each year than Columbus. Columbus drops below 20°F on 29 more days per year than Los Angeles.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
67 / 100
57 / 100
10.0 pts behind Los Angeles
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
150 routes
32 routes
118 fewer direct routes than Los Angeles
Metro size
Metro size
12.8M metro
2.2M metro
Los Angeles has 3.0x more events per month than Columbus.
the verdict
4
Los Angeles
categories won
5
Columbus
categories won
Columbus wins on money. Los Angeles has the edge on weather and lifestyle.
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