01 · the cities
Naples
Naples brings wealthy retirees to the Gulf coast for genuinely some of the prettiest beaches in Florida, and the sunsets at the pier are a community ritual (everyone gathers, no one talks). The downtown along Fifth Avenue is pastel and breezy. Mercato has the upscale restaurants. The Everglades' western edge starts just south of town. Affluent, sunny, and quieter than the east-coast Florida cities.
full dispatch→Charlotte
Charlotte is banking towers (it's the second-biggest banking center in the country after NYC) wrapped in pine trees and southern hospitality. Uptown is the downtown (Charlotteans correct you on this immediately), the NASCAR Hall of Fame anchors a real motorsport scene, and the Whitewater Center lets you raft inside the city limits. Growth is fast, breweries are everywhere, and barbecue gets the Carolina vinegar treatment.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,719/mo
$1,728/mo
$991/mo less than Naples (57%)
Median home price
Median home price
$679k
$391k
$288k less than Naples
State income tax
State income tax
0%
4.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,614/mo
$6,230/mo
Charlotte has $616/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
261 days
200 days
61 fewer than Naples
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
7 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
3 days
days below 20°F per year
Charlotte has 7 more days above 95°F each year than Naples.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
58 / 100
51 / 100
7.0 pts behind Naples
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
34 routes
141 routes
107 more direct routes than Naples
Metro size
Metro size
404k metro
2.8M metro
the verdict
4
Naples
categories won
4
Charlotte
categories won
Naples wins on weather, Charlotte wins on money. Dead even.
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