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→Phoenix
Phoenix is sun, saguaros, and a valley so wide you can drive 45 minutes in a straight line and still be in greater Phoenix. The Sonoran Desert blooms wildly in spring, the monsoon storms in late summer are theatrical, and the hiking on Camelback or Piestewa Peak is a sunrise ritual. Pools and shaded patios are basically infrastructure, and the locals have the rhythm of a desert day dialed.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,329/mo
$1,739/mo
$1,590/mo less than New York (91%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$458k
$281k less than New York
State income tax
State income tax
10.7%
2.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,110/mo
$6,386/mo
Phoenix has $2,276/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
181 days
10 more than New York
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
133 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
19 days
0 days
days below 20°F per year
Phoenix has 132 more days above 95°F each year than New York. New York drops below 20°F on 19 more days per year than Phoenix.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
78 / 100
66 / 100
12.0 pts behind New York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
215 routes
91 routes
124 fewer direct routes than New York
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
5.1M metro
New York has 19.6x more events per month than Phoenix.
the verdict
3
New York
categories won
6
Phoenix
categories won
Phoenix wins on money and weather. New York has the edge on lifestyle.
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