01 · the cities
Miami
Miami is Spanish before it's English, salsa before it's small talk, and a cortadito before it's a coffee. South Beach Art Deco glows pink at night, Wynwood is a city-sized mural, and the Cuban sandwiches in Little Havana could end fights. Summer is bath-warm ocean and ceiling fans turned up high, and October feels like everywhere else's perfect August. Bring linen.
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
$2,665/mo
$1,382/mo
$1,283/mo less than Miami (93%)
Median home price
Median home price
$565k
$296k
$268k less than Miami
State income tax
State income tax
0%
5.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,668/mo
$6,472/mo
Roanoke has $804/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
272 days
179 days
93 fewer than Miami
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 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
Roanoke drops below 20°F on 21 more days per year than Miami.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
77 / 100
69 / 100
8.0 pts behind Miami
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
167 routes
9 routes
158 fewer direct routes than Miami
Metro size
Metro size
6.2M metro
314k metro
Miami has 82.2x more events per month than Roanoke.
the verdict
5
Miami
categories won
3
Roanoke
categories won
Miami wins on weather and lifestyle. Roanoke has the edge on money.
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