01 · the cities
Richmond
Richmond is one of the only major U.S. cities with class IV whitewater rapids running right through downtown. The James River's Belle Isle is a public park where people sunbathe on boulders mid-river. The Fan and Carytown neighborhoods are full of murals, vintage shops, and porches built for sitting. The food scene leans creative, the beer scene leans plentiful, and VCU keeps the arts energy buzzing.
full dispatch→Chattanooga
Chattanooga became the first city in the country to roll out gigabit fiber internet to every home (2010, via the municipal utility), which jump-started a tech and remote-work scene. Lookout Mountain rises right above town, with Ruby Falls' underground waterfall and Rock City's epic views. The Tennessee Riverwalk is gorgeous. The Choo Choo (old terminal turned hotel) is a fun stay.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,691/mo
$1,524/mo
$167/mo less than Richmond (11%)
Median home price
Median home price
$394k
$322k
$72k less than Richmond
State income tax
State income tax
5.8%
0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,163/mo
$6,809/mo
Chattanooga has $646/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
172 days
167 days
5 fewer than Richmond
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
18 days
16 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
9 days
5 days
days below 20°F per year
Richmond and Chattanooga have remarkably similar weather profiles overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
65 / 100
69 / 100
4.0 pts ahead of Richmond
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
19 routes
8 routes
11 fewer direct routes than Richmond
Metro size
Metro size
1.4M metro
580k metro
Richmond has 2.5x more events per month than Chattanooga.
the verdict
2
Richmond
categories won
5
Chattanooga
categories won
Chattanooga wins on money. Richmond has the edge on weather.
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