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→Salinas
Salinas is the Salad Bowl of the World, where most of the country's leafy greens, strawberries, and broccoli come from. John Steinbeck grew up here and the National Steinbeck Center downtown is excellent. The Salinas Rodeo is a century-old summer event. The Monterey Bay is 20 minutes west, but the city itself is a working ag town with strong Mexican-American culture.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,329/mo
$2,813/mo
$516/mo less than New York (18%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$862k
$123k more than New York
State income tax
State income tax
10.7%
9.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,110/mo
$4,745/mo
Salinas has $635/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
335 days
164 more 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
0 days
days below 20°F per year
New York drops below 20°F on 19 more days per year than Salinas.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
78 / 100
71 / 100
7.0 pts behind New York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
215 routes
6 routes
209 fewer direct routes than New York
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
431k metro
the verdict
3
New York
categories won
5
Salinas
categories won
Salinas wins on money and weather. New York has the edge on lifestyle.
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