01 · the cities
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is cheesesteaks (the Pat's vs. Geno's argument is mostly theater), the Italian Market, and the Liberty Bell sitting modestly in a glass pavilion. Murals are everywhere (the city runs the largest public art program in the country). The Eagles fans climbing light poles is folklore for a reason. The food scene punches way above its weight and the bar scene knows it.
full dispatch→Baltimore
Baltimore is steamed crabs with Old Bay, the Inner Harbor at golden hour, and row houses with painted screens. Edgar Allan Poe is buried here, John Waters still lives here, and Cal Ripken Jr. is a saint. The seafood is genuinely some of the best on the east coast. The neighborhoods (Fells Point, Hampden, Federal Hill) each feel like their own small town.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,869/mo
$1,868/mo
Median home price
Median home price
$393k
$412k
$19k more than Philadelphia
State income tax
State income tax
6.8%
8.2%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,896/mo
$5,782/mo
Philadelphia has $114/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
173 days
168 days
5 fewer than Philadelphia
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
2 days
4 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
21 days
21 days
days below 20°F per year
Philadelphia and Baltimore have remarkably similar weather profiles overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
69 / 100
66 / 100
3.0 pts behind Philadelphia
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
122 routes
72 routes
50 fewer direct routes than Philadelphia
Metro size
Metro size
6.2M metro
2.8M metro
Philadelphia has 2.8x more events per month than Baltimore.
the verdict
6
Philadelphia
categories won
0
Baltimore
categories won
Philadelphia wins this comparison, leading on money and weather.
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