01 · the cities
Memphis
Memphis is dry-rub ribs, Beale Street neon, and the rooms where Stax and Sun Records changed pop music forever. Graceland is a tourist pilgrimage that's still genuinely moving. The Mississippi rolls past, the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel is essential, and the BBQ debate (rib joints vs. the chopped-pork houses) is a local pastime. Soulful in the literal sense.
full dispatch→Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City is Bricktown's canal and warehouses, the Thunder (who get loud), and the deeply moving Oklahoma City National Memorial. The downtown's grown up fast in the last decade, the food scene leans steaks and Vietnamese (the Asian District is legit), and the surrounding plains give the city an enormous sky. The Cowboy Hall of Fame is more thoughtful than the name suggests.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,436/mo
$1,376/mo
$60/mo less than Memphis (4%)
Median home price
Median home price
$244k
$246k
State income tax
State income tax
0%
4.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,897/mo
$6,562/mo
Memphis has $335/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
185 days
191 days
6 more than Memphis
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
6 days
26 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
5 days
9 days
days below 20°F per year
Oklahoma City has 20 more days above 95°F each year than Memphis.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
56 / 100
45 / 100
11.0 pts behind Memphis
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
32 routes
20 routes
12 fewer direct routes than Memphis
Metro size
Metro size
1.3M metro
1.5M metro
Memphis has 1.4x fewer events per month than Oklahoma City.
the verdict
5
Memphis
categories won
2
Oklahoma City
categories won
Memphis leads on money and lifestyle and wins overall.
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