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→Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids has won Beer City USA multiple times, hosts ArtPrize (one of the world's largest open art competitions every fall), and built itself on furniture (Steelcase, Herman Miller). The Frederik Meijer Sculpture Park is a sleeper world-class attraction. Downtown is walkable, the surrounding farmland is gorgeous in autumn, and Lake Michigan beaches are 30 minutes west. Quietly excellent.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,329/mo
$1,620/mo
$1,709/mo less than New York (105%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$353k
$387k 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
$6,359/mo
Grand Rapids has $2,249/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
151 days
20 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
50 days
days below 20°F per year
Grand Rapids drops below 20°F on 31 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
20 routes
195 fewer direct routes than New York
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
1.2M metro
New York has 56.6x more events per month than Grand Rapids.
the verdict
4
New York
categories won
4
Grand Rapids
categories won
New York wins on weather and lifestyle, Grand Rapids wins on money. Dead even.
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