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→Roanoke
Roanoke is the Star City of the South, named for the enormous illuminated star on Mill Mountain that's been lighting up the valley since 1949. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs right past town. The downtown has come back beautifully with the Taubman Museum, breweries, and a thriving market. The surrounding mountains are gorgeous in every season. Smaller and more scenic than people expect.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,899/mo
$1,382/mo
$1,517/mo less than Los Angeles (110%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$296k
$733k less than Los Angeles
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
5.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,659/mo
$6,472/mo
Roanoke has $1,813/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
179 days
104 fewer than Los Angeles
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
19 days
2 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
21 days
days below 20°F per year
Los Angeles has 17 more days above 95°F each year than Roanoke. Roanoke drops below 20°F on 21 more days per year than Los Angeles.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
67 / 100
69 / 100
2.0 pts ahead of Los Angeles
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
150 routes
9 routes
141 fewer direct routes than Los Angeles
Metro size
Metro size
12.8M metro
314k metro
Los Angeles has 29.0x more events per month than Roanoke.
the verdict
3
Los Angeles
categories won
6
Roanoke
categories won
Roanoke wins on money. Los Angeles has the edge on weather.
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