01 · the cities
New York
New York is the city that refuses to take a nap. Five boroughs of bodegas, bagels, late-night dollar slices, and entire neighborhoods that switch languages every six blocks. The subway is a 472-station miracle that runs all night, and Central Park is the green lung that keeps Manhattan sane. You will spend more than you planned and love every minute of it.
full dispatch→Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor is the University of Michigan, with the Big House (Michigan Stadium) holding over 107,000 people on football Saturdays, making it briefly the third-largest city in Michigan. Downtown is tree-lined brick streets, great independent bookstores, and a food scene with strong Middle Eastern and Korean energy. Zingerman's Deli is a national pilgrimage. The Huron River runs through. College town energy at its best.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,329/mo
$2,082/mo
$1,247/mo less than New York (60%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$429k
$310k less than New York
State income tax
State income tax
10.7%
4.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,110/mo
$5,897/mo
Ann Arbor has $1,787/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
171 days
154 days
17 fewer than New York
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
19 days
51 days
days below 20°F per year
Ann Arbor drops below 20°F on 32 more days per year than New York.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
78 / 100
56 / 100
22.0 pts behind New York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
215 routes
135 routes
80 fewer direct routes than New York
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
366k metro
New York has 279.1x more events per month than Ann Arbor.
the verdict
4
New York
categories won
4
Ann Arbor
categories won
New York wins on weather and lifestyle, Ann Arbor wins on money. Dead even.
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