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→Montgomery
Montgomery is civil rights ground zero: Rosa Parks' bus, the start of the Selma march, Dr. King's Dexter Avenue church. The Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice (the lynching memorial) are essential and devastating in equal measure. The city is also the Alabama state capital, with the river curving past, and the food and music scenes have grown up in the last decade. Heavy and beautiful.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,899/mo
$1,376/mo
$1,523/mo less than Los Angeles (111%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$212k
$818k less than Los Angeles
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
5.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,659/mo
$6,541/mo
Montgomery has $1,882/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
181 days
102 fewer than Los Angeles
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
19 days
29 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
1 days
days below 20°F per year
Montgomery has 10 more days above 95°F each year than Los Angeles.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
67 / 100
44 / 100
23.0 pts behind Los Angeles
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
150 routes
3 routes
147 fewer direct routes than Los Angeles
Metro size
Metro size
12.8M metro
385k metro
Los Angeles has 10.9x more events per month than Montgomery.
the verdict
4
Los Angeles
categories won
4
Montgomery
categories won
Los Angeles wins on weather and lifestyle, Montgomery wins on money. Dead even.
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