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→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
$3,329/mo
$1,728/mo
$1,601/mo less than New York (93%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$391k
$348k less than New York
State income tax
State income tax
10.7%
4.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,110/mo
$6,230/mo
Charlotte has $2,120/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
200 days
29 more than New York
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
7 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
19 days
3 days
days below 20°F per year
Charlotte has 6 more days above 95°F each year than New York. New York drops below 20°F on 16 more days per year than Charlotte.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
78 / 100
51 / 100
27.0 pts behind New York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
215 routes
141 routes
74 fewer direct routes than New York
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
2.8M metro
New York has 34.6x more events per month than Charlotte.
the verdict
3
New York
categories won
6
Charlotte
categories won
Charlotte wins on money and weather. New York has the edge on lifestyle.
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