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→Hartford
Hartford is the insurance capital of America (Aetna, Travelers, the works), with the steeple of the Travelers building visible from miles away. Mark Twain wrote Huckleberry Finn in his weird and wonderful Hartford house, now a museum. The Connecticut River curves past downtown, and the surrounding small towns are New England postcard material. Quieter than its neighbors, with serious history.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,673/mo
$1,931/mo
$258/mo more than Madison (13%)
Median home price
Median home price
$465k
$411k
$53k less than Madison
State income tax
State income tax
6.3%
5.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,138/mo
$5,944/mo
Madison has $194/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
148 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
71 days
47 days
days below 20°F per year
Madison drops below 20°F on 24 more days per year than Hartford.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
67 / 100
67 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
11 routes
26 routes
15 more direct routes than Madison
Metro size
Metro size
694k metro
1.2M metro
Madison has 1.4x more events per month than Hartford.
the verdict
2
Madison
categories won
4
Hartford
categories won
Hartford leads on weather and lifestyle and wins overall.
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