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→Richmond
Richmond is one of the only major U.S. cities with class IV whitewater rapids running right through downtown. The James River's Belle Isle is a public park where people sunbathe on boulders mid-river. The Fan and Carytown neighborhoods are full of murals, vintage shops, and porches built for sitting. The food scene leans creative, the beer scene leans plentiful, and VCU keeps the arts energy buzzing.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,329/mo
$1,691/mo
$1,638/mo less than New York (97%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$394k
$345k less than New York
State income tax
State income tax
10.7%
5.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,110/mo
$6,163/mo
Richmond has $2,053/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
172 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
18 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
19 days
9 days
days below 20°F per year
Richmond has 17 more days above 95°F each year than New York. New York drops below 20°F on 10 more days per year than Richmond.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
78 / 100
65 / 100
13.0 pts behind New York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
215 routes
19 routes
196 fewer direct routes than New York
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
1.4M metro
New York has 67.4x more events per month than Richmond.
the verdict
3
New York
categories won
5
Richmond
categories won
Richmond wins on money. New York has the edge on lifestyle.
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