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→Minneapolis
Minneapolis is 22 lakes inside city limits, an extensive skyway system that lets you cross downtown in February without a coat, and a music legacy that runs from Prince to The Replacements. Summer is a glorious lake-jumping, ice-cream-licking festival. Winter is sauna-and-skate season, with rinks on every lake and cross-country trails stitched through the city. Walleye is on every menu.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,739/mo
$1,679/mo
$60/mo less than Phoenix (4%)
Median home price
Median home price
$458k
$398k
$60k less than Phoenix
State income tax
State income tax
2.5%
7.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,386/mo
$6,000/mo
Phoenix has $386/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
147 days
34 fewer than Phoenix
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
133 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
84 days
days below 20°F per year
Phoenix has 132 more days above 95°F each year than Minneapolis. Minneapolis drops below 20°F on 84 more days per year than Phoenix.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
66 / 100
76 / 100
10.0 pts ahead of Phoenix
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
91 routes
130 routes
39 more direct routes than Phoenix
Metro size
Metro size
5.1M metro
3.7M metro
Phoenix has 1.3x more events per month than Minneapolis.
the verdict
4
Phoenix
categories won
5
Minneapolis
categories won
Minneapolis wins on lifestyle. Phoenix has the edge on weather.
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