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→Milwaukee
Milwaukee is beer (the Pabst and Miller legacy still hangs in the air), bratwurst (with the proper amount of mustard, please), and a Lake Michigan shoreline that goes on forever. Frozen custard is a regional specialty and a serious one. The Calatrava-designed art museum has wings that literally open and close on Lake Michigan. Friendly here means you'll have a new friend by the second beer.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,329/mo
$1,504/mo
$1,825/mo less than New York (121%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$394k
$345k less than New York
State income tax
State income tax
10.7%
6.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,110/mo
$6,307/mo
Milwaukee has $2,197/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
149 days
22 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
62 days
days below 20°F per year
Milwaukee drops below 20°F on 43 more days per year than New York.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
78 / 100
61 / 100
17.0 pts behind New York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
215 routes
30 routes
185 fewer direct routes than New York
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
1.6M metro
New York has 55.8x more events per month than Milwaukee.
the verdict
4
New York
categories won
4
Milwaukee
categories won
New York wins on weather and lifestyle, Milwaukee wins on money. Dead even.
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