01 · the cities
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→Allentown
Allentown is the heart of the Lehigh Valley, with old industrial bones turning into a quietly resilient mid-sized city. The Lehigh River runs past, the historic downtown has been steadily finding its footing with breweries and restaurants in the old buildings, and the surrounding farmland is gorgeous. It's an hour and change from both Philly and NYC. Cheaper than both, by a lot.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,673/mo
$1,809/mo
$136/mo more than Madison (8%)
Median home price
Median home price
$465k
$359k
$105k less than Madison
State income tax
State income tax
6.3%
3.1%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,138/mo
$6,269/mo
Allentown has $131/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
147 days
157 days
10 more than Madison
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
2 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
71 days
32 days
days below 20°F per year
Madison drops below 20°F on 39 more days per year than Allentown.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
67 / 100
73 / 100
6.0 pts ahead of Madison
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
11 routes
9 routes
Metro size
Metro size
694k metro
874k metro
Madison has 1.5x more events per month than Allentown.
the verdict
1
Madison
categories won
6
Allentown
categories won
Allentown wins this comparison, leading on money and weather.
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