01 · the cities
Raleigh
Raleigh is the third leg of the Research Triangle, full of oaks (its nickname is the City of Oaks), state museums that are all free, and a downtown that's grown up fast without losing its quiet edges. NC State pumps young energy in, the food scene is sneaky-good, and the surrounding pine forests make summer evenings smell incredible. Beaches are two hours east, mountains three hours west.
full dispatch→Columbus
Columbus is Ohio State on autumn Saturdays (the Horseshoe holds 100,000+ and they all wear scarlet), German Village's cobblestone streets and brick cottages, and a Short North gallery scene that punches well above its weight. It's quietly become a test market for the rest of America because the demographics line up so neatly. The food scene leans young, weird, and good. 'Buckeyes' here can mean either the football team or the chocolate-peanut-butter candy.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,663/mo
$1,511/mo
$152/mo less than Raleigh (10%)
Median home price
Median home price
$440k
$350k
$91k less than Raleigh
State income tax
State income tax
4.5%
4.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,295/mo
$6,490/mo
Columbus has $195/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
201 days
171 days
30 fewer than Raleigh
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
5 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
3 days
29 days
days below 20°F per year
Raleigh has 5 more days above 95°F each year than Columbus. Columbus drops below 20°F on 26 more days per year than Raleigh.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
58 / 100
57 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
39 routes
32 routes
7 fewer direct routes than Raleigh
Metro size
Metro size
1.5M metro
2.2M metro
Raleigh has 2.5x fewer events per month than Columbus.
the verdict
3
Raleigh
categories won
5
Columbus
categories won
Columbus wins on money. Raleigh has the edge on weather and lifestyle.
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