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→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
$2,899/mo
$1,673/mo
$1,226/mo less than Los Angeles (73%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$465k
$565k less than Los Angeles
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
6.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,659/mo
$6,138/mo
Madison has $1,479/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
147 days
136 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
71 days
days below 20°F per year
Los Angeles has 19 more days above 95°F each year than Madison. Madison drops below 20°F on 71 more days per year than Los Angeles.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
67 / 100
67 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
150 routes
11 routes
139 fewer direct routes than Los Angeles
Metro size
Metro size
12.8M metro
694k metro
Los Angeles has 8.7x more events per month than Madison.
the verdict
3
Los Angeles
categories won
5
Madison
categories won
Madison wins on money. Los Angeles has the edge on weather and lifestyle.
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