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→Portland
Portland Maine is lobster rolls, lighthouses (Portland Head Light is the brochure), a working waterfront where fishing boats still come in, and a food scene that has the same per-capita acclaim as the much bigger Portland Oregon. The Old Port's brick streets, breweries, and harbor views are walkable in an afternoon. Casco Bay's islands are a ferry ride away. Tiny, dense, and seriously delicious.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,329/mo
$2,285/mo
$1,044/mo less than New York (46%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$543k
$197k less than New York
State income tax
State income tax
10.7%
7.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,110/mo
$5,423/mo
Portland has $1,313/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
145 days
26 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
19 days
days below 20°F per year
New York edges ahead on pleasant days, but both cities have comparable comfort overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
78 / 100
71 / 100
7.0 pts behind New York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
215 routes
2 routes
213 fewer direct routes than New York
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
566k metro
New York has 126.0x more events per month than Portland.
the verdict
3
New York
categories won
4
Portland
categories won
Portland wins on money. New York has the edge on weather and lifestyle.
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