01 · the cities
Milwaukee
Milwaukee is beer (the Pabst and Miller legacy still hangs in the air), bratwurst (with the proper amount of mustard, please), and a Lake Michigan shoreline that goes on forever. Frozen custard is a regional specialty and a serious one. The Calatrava-designed art museum has wings that literally open and close on Lake Michigan. Friendly here means you'll have a new friend by the second beer.
full dispatch→Buffalo
Buffalo invented the wing (Anchor Bar, 1964, midnight, blue cheese, celery, not negotiable) and that should tell you most of what you need to know about the city's spirit. The Bills Mafia jumps through tables in subzero parking lots. Niagara Falls is 20 minutes away. The architecture (Sullivan, Wright, Olmsted parks) is genuinely world-class. The snow is part of the local mythology and the locals wear it proudly.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,504/mo
$1,374/mo
$130/mo less than Milwaukee (9%)
Median home price
Median home price
$394k
$280k
$115k less than Milwaukee
State income tax
State income tax
6.3%
5.9%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,307/mo
$6,472/mo
Buffalo has $165/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
149 days
152 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
62 days
42 days
days below 20°F per year
Milwaukee drops below 20°F on 20 more days per year than Buffalo.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
61 / 100
66 / 100
5.0 pts ahead of Milwaukee
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
30 routes
20 routes
10 fewer direct routes than Milwaukee
Metro size
Metro size
1.6M metro
1.2M metro
Milwaukee and Buffalo have similar event volume.
the verdict
1
Milwaukee
categories won
6
Buffalo
categories won
Buffalo wins this comparison, leading on money and weather.
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