01 · the cities
New Haven
New Haven invented apizza (that's a-PEETS, the local New Haven Italian style), and Frank Pepe's claims the white clam pie as their original. Yale anchors the city with its Gothic spires and museums (the Yale University Art Gallery is free and exceptional). The Long Island Sound is right there, and the city's a 90-minute train ride to Grand Central. Pizza-pilgrimage worthy on its own.
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
$2,089/mo
$1,673/mo
$416/mo less than New Haven (25%)
Median home price
Median home price
$424k
$465k
$41k more than New Haven
State income tax
State income tax
5.5%
6.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,786/mo
$6,138/mo
Madison has $352/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
155 days
147 days
8 fewer than New Haven
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
40 days
71 days
days below 20°F per year
Madison drops below 20°F on 31 more days per year than New Haven.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
67 / 100
67 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
1 routes
11 routes
10 more direct routes than New Haven
Metro size
Metro size
568k metro
694k metro
New Haven has 2.2x fewer events per month than Madison.
the verdict
4
New Haven
categories won
3
Madison
categories won
New Haven wins on weather. Madison has the edge on lifestyle.
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