01 · the cities
Springfield
Springfield is the birthplace of Route 66 (the road was officially named in a meeting here in 1926), Bass Pro Shops' world headquarters, and the gateway to the Ozarks. Wonders of Wildlife (next to the Bass Pro store) is genuinely one of the best aquariums in America. The city itself is friendly, affordable, and surprisingly leafy. Branson is 30 miles south for the lake-and-show experience.
full dispatch→Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne sits where three rivers meet (the St. Joseph, the St. Marys, and the Maumee), and the riverfront has been transforming into a real public space. The Children's Zoo is consistently ranked among the country's best. It's the second-largest city in Indiana, with the friendly small-town feel still intact. Cheap, easy, and quietly improving.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,249/mo
$1,187/mo
$62/mo less than Springfield (5%)
Median home price
Median home price
$268k
$254k
$14k less than Springfield
State income tax
State income tax
4.7%
3.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,693/mo
$6,896/mo
Fort Wayne has $203/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
170 days
161 days
9 fewer than Springfield
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
12 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
20 days
38 days
days below 20°F per year
Springfield has 12 more days above 95°F each year than Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne drops below 20°F on 18 more days per year than Springfield.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
50 / 100
46 / 100
4.0 pts behind Springfield
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
9 routes
10 routes
Metro size
Metro size
491k metro
458k metro
Springfield has 1.3x fewer events per month than Fort Wayne.
the verdict
3
Springfield
categories won
5
Fort Wayne
categories won
Fort Wayne wins on money. Springfield has the edge on weather and lifestyle.
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