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→Gainesville
Gainesville is the University of Florida, the Gators, and a college town with serious natural assets: 30+ named springs within an hour's drive, including Ginnie, Devil's Den, and Ichetucknee for tubing. The food scene is solid and cheap (it's still a college town), and downtown's grown up with breweries and music venues. Surrounded by oak forests and prairie. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers got their start here.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,719/mo
$1,645/mo
$1,074/mo less than Naples (65%)
Median home price
Median home price
$679k
$317k
$362k less than Naples
State income tax
State income tax
0%
0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,614/mo
$6,688/mo
Gainesville has $1,074/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
206 days
55 fewer than Naples
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
17 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
0 days
days below 20°F per year
Gainesville has 17 more days above 95°F each year than Naples.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
58 / 100
63 / 100
5.0 pts ahead of Naples
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
34 routes
5 routes
29 fewer direct routes than Naples
Metro size
Metro size
404k metro
350k metro
the verdict
3
Naples
categories won
4
Gainesville
categories won
Gainesville wins on money. Naples has the edge on weather.
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