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→Springfield
Springfield is where basketball was invented in 1891 (the Basketball Hall of Fame is right here), and where Dr. Seuss grew up (there's a sculpture garden downtown). The city's old industrial buildings are slowly coming back, and the surrounding Pioneer Valley is one of the prettiest stretches in New England. UMass is just up the road. Quieter than Boston, much cheaper.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,329/mo
$1,913/mo
$1,416/mo less than New York (74%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$373k
$367k less than New York
State income tax
State income tax
10.7%
5.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,110/mo
$6,004/mo
Springfield has $1,894/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
147 days
24 fewer than New York
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
19 days
47 days
days below 20°F per year
Springfield drops below 20°F on 28 more days per year than New York.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
78 / 100
66 / 100
12.0 pts behind New York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
215 routes
26 routes
189 fewer direct routes than New York
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
460k metro
New York has 651.2x more events per month than Springfield.
the verdict
4
New York
categories won
4
Springfield
categories won
New York wins on weather and lifestyle, Springfield wins on money. Dead even.
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