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→Cleveland
Cleveland is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the West Side Market's 100+ years of pierogies and bratwurst, and Lake Erie sunsets that put the coastal hype to shame. The Cuyahoga River caught fire so many times it inspired the Clean Water Act. The Cleveland Orchestra is consistently ranked among the world's best. Summers on the lake are gorgeous, and the food scene is having a real moment.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,329/mo
$1,419/mo
$1,910/mo less than New York (135%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$252k
$488k less than New York
State income tax
State income tax
10.7%
4.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,110/mo
$6,582/mo
Cleveland has $2,472/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
159 days
12 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
27 days
days below 20°F per year
Cleveland drops below 20°F on 8 more days per year than New York.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
78 / 100
63 / 100
15.0 pts behind New York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
215 routes
56 routes
159 fewer direct routes than New York
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
2.2M metro
New York has 44.4x more events per month than Cleveland.
the verdict
4
New York
categories won
4
Cleveland
categories won
New York wins on weather and lifestyle, Cleveland wins on money. Dead even.
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