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→Wilmington
Wilmington has been called 'Hollywood East' for the volume of film and TV produced here (Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, and dozens of features). The historic riverfront on the Cape Fear is genuinely charming, and Wrightsville Beach is 15 minutes away. The food scene punches above its weight, especially seafood. UNCW keeps it youthful. A coastal city with both beach and downtown charm.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,899/mo
$1,675/mo
$1,224/mo less than Los Angeles (73%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$448k
$581k less than Los Angeles
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
4.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,659/mo
$6,283/mo
Wilmington has $1,624/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
235 days
48 fewer than Los Angeles
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
19 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
1 days
days below 20°F per year
Los Angeles has 18 more days above 95°F each year than Wilmington.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
67 / 100
54 / 100
13.0 pts behind Los Angeles
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
150 routes
5 routes
145 fewer direct routes than Los Angeles
Metro size
Metro size
12.8M metro
467k metro
Los Angeles has 17.4x more events per month than Wilmington.
the verdict
3
Los Angeles
categories won
5
Wilmington
categories won
Wilmington wins on money. Los Angeles has the edge on lifestyle.
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