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→Houston
Houston has no zoning laws (you'll see a taco truck next to a mansion next to a strip mall), the most diverse food scene in America by most rankings, and NASA's mission control out on the edge of town. The Texas Medical Center is the largest in the world. It's sprawling and culturally enormous, with a Vietnamese pho district, Nigerian jollof spots, and a Tex-Mex scene that takes itself seriously. Bigger than you think, in every direction.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,329/mo
$1,610/mo
$1,719/mo less than New York (107%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$311k
$428k less than New York
State income tax
State income tax
10.7%
0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,110/mo
$6,723/mo
Houston has $2,613/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
171 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
54 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
19 days
1 days
days below 20°F per year
Houston has 53 more days above 95°F each year than New York. New York drops below 20°F on 18 more days per year than Houston.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
78 / 100
55 / 100
23.0 pts behind New York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
215 routes
176 routes
39 fewer direct routes than New York
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
7.5M metro
New York has 18.4x more events per month than Houston.
the verdict
3
New York
categories won
5
Houston
categories won
Houston wins on money. New York has the edge on lifestyle.
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