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→Salem
Salem is the Oregon state capital, smaller and quieter than Portland (less than an hour north), with the Willamette River running through downtown and the surrounding Willamette Valley producing some of the best Pinot Noir in the world. The state capitol is topped by a gold-leaf pioneer statue. Cherry blossoms line the riverfront every spring. Affordable and underrated.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,329/mo
$1,642/mo
$1,687/mo less than New York (103%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$452k
$287k less than New York
State income tax
State income tax
10.7%
8.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,110/mo
$5,962/mo
Salem has $1,852/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
201 days
30 more than New York
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
2 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
19 days
1 days
days below 20°F per year
New York drops below 20°F on 18 more days per year than Salem.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
78 / 100
69 / 100
9.0 pts behind New York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
215 routes
0 routes
215 fewer direct routes than New York
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
437k metro
New York has 3907.0x more events per month than Salem.
the verdict
2
New York
categories won
6
Salem
categories won
Salem wins on money and weather. New York has the edge on lifestyle.
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