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→Madison
Madison sits on an isthmus between two lakes, with the state capitol gleaming on one end and the University of Wisconsin sprawling on the other. The Saturday farmers market around the Capitol Square is one of the best in the country. Cheese curds, brats, and beer are mandatory food groups. The Terrace at Memorial Union, looking out at Lake Mendota, is the unofficial heart of the city in summer.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,719/mo
$1,673/mo
$1,046/mo less than Naples (63%)
Median home price
Median home price
$679k
$465k
$214k less than Naples
State income tax
State income tax
0%
6.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,614/mo
$6,138/mo
Madison has $524/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
147 days
114 fewer than Naples
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
71 days
days below 20°F per year
Madison drops below 20°F on 71 more days per year than Naples.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
58 / 100
67 / 100
9.0 pts ahead of Naples
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
34 routes
11 routes
23 fewer direct routes than Naples
Metro size
Metro size
404k metro
694k metro
the verdict
4
Naples
categories won
4
Madison
categories won
Naples wins on weather, Madison wins on money. Dead even.
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