01 · the cities
Syracuse
Syracuse averages around 120 inches of snow per year, which is the most of any major U.S. city, and locals wear it like a badge. The Carrier Dome (now JMA Wireless Dome) is the largest on-campus arena in the country. The food scene leans Italian (Salt City was an Italian immigrant hub) and excellent. The Finger Lakes are right next door. Bring boots.
full dispatch→Milwaukee
Milwaukee is beer (the Pabst and Miller legacy still hangs in the air), bratwurst (with the proper amount of mustard, please), and a Lake Michigan shoreline that goes on forever. Frozen custard is a regional specialty and a serious one. The Calatrava-designed art museum has wings that literally open and close on Lake Michigan. Friendly here means you'll have a new friend by the second beer.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,619/mo
$1,504/mo
$115/mo less than Syracuse (8%)
Median home price
Median home price
$254k
$394k
$140k more than Syracuse
State income tax
State income tax
5.9%
6.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,227/mo
$6,307/mo
Milwaukee has $80/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
142 days
149 days
7 more than Syracuse
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
53 days
62 days
days below 20°F per year
Milwaukee drops below 20°F on 9 more days per year than Syracuse.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
61 / 100
2.0 pts ahead of Syracuse
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
16 routes
30 routes
14 more direct routes than Syracuse
Metro size
Metro size
653k metro
1.6M metro
Syracuse and Milwaukee have similar event volume.
the verdict
3
Syracuse
categories won
5
Milwaukee
categories won
Milwaukee leads on lifestyle and wins overall.
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