01 · the cities
Olympia
Olympia is the Washington state capital, much smaller and chiller than Seattle. Evergreen State College gives it a hippie-anarchist energy (the riot grrrl music movement essentially started here, with Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney's name coming from a local road). The capitol dome is one of the tallest in the country. Puget Sound oysters are the regional star. Mossy, mellow, and underrated.
full dispatch→Provo
Provo is BYU and the Mormon culture's center of gravity, with a downtown that's quieter than most college towns (no Saturday football beer crowds here). The Wasatch Mountains rise right behind it, with Sundance ski resort 30 minutes up the canyon. Provo Canyon and Bridal Veil Falls are summer go-tos. The tech scene (Qualtrics, Domo) has reshaped the local economy. Beautiful in a calm, ordered way.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,991/mo
$1,743/mo
$248/mo less than Olympia (14%)
Median home price
Median home price
$533k
$559k
$27k more than Olympia
State income tax
State income tax
0%
4.7%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,342/mo
$6,203/mo
Olympia has $139/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
182 days
171 days
11 fewer than Olympia
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
12 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
2 days
44 days
days below 20°F per year
Provo has 12 more days above 95°F each year than Olympia. Provo drops below 20°F on 42 more days per year than Olympia.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
80 / 100
81 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
90 routes
91 routes
Metro size
Metro size
299k metro
733k metro
the verdict
6
Olympia
categories won
1
Provo
categories won
Olympia wins this comparison, leading on money and weather.
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