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→Spartanburg
Spartanburg is the Upstate of South Carolina, with rolling foothills, peach orchards (yes, South Carolina actually grows more peaches than Georgia in some years), and the largest BMW manufacturing plant in the world just outside town. The downtown's been revitalizing with breweries and restaurants. Wofford and Converse keep college energy in town. The Blue Ridge is right there.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,329/mo
$1,434/mo
$1,895/mo less than New York (132%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$277k
$462k less than New York
State income tax
State income tax
10.7%
6.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,110/mo
$6,358/mo
Spartanburg has $2,248/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
191 days
20 more than New York
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
16 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
19 days
4 days
days below 20°F per year
Spartanburg has 15 more days above 95°F each year than New York. New York drops below 20°F on 15 more days per year than Spartanburg.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
78 / 100
68 / 100
10.0 pts behind New York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
215 routes
20 routes
195 fewer direct routes than New York
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
383k metro
New York has 260.5x more events per month than Spartanburg.
the verdict
3
New York
categories won
6
Spartanburg
categories won
Spartanburg wins on money and weather. New York has the edge on lifestyle.
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