01 · the cities
Phoenix
Phoenix is sun, saguaros, and a valley so wide you can drive 45 minutes in a straight line and still be in greater Phoenix. The Sonoran Desert blooms wildly in spring, the monsoon storms in late summer are theatrical, and the hiking on Camelback or Piestewa Peak is a sunrise ritual. Pools and shaded patios are basically infrastructure, and the locals have the rhythm of a desert day dialed.
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
$1,739/mo
$1,868/mo
$129/mo more than Phoenix (7%)
Median home price
Median home price
$458k
$412k
$46k less than Phoenix
State income tax
State income tax
2.5%
8.2%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,386/mo
$5,782/mo
Phoenix has $604/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
181 days
168 days
13 fewer than Phoenix
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
133 days
4 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
21 days
days below 20°F per year
Phoenix has 129 more days above 95°F each year than Baltimore. Baltimore drops below 20°F on 21 more days per year than Phoenix.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
66 / 100
66 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
91 routes
72 routes
19 fewer direct routes than Phoenix
Metro size
Metro size
5.1M metro
2.8M metro
Phoenix has 3.0x more events per month than Baltimore.
the verdict
6
Phoenix
categories won
2
Baltimore
categories won
Phoenix leads on money and weather and lifestyle and wins overall.
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