01 · the cities
Tallahassee
Tallahassee feels more like south Georgia than Florida: oak canopies, rolling hills, and red clay. It's the state capital, home to Florida State (Seminole football is a religion) and FAMU, and surrounded by some of the best springs in the country (Wakulla and Wakulla Springs State Park are 20 minutes south). The food scene leans southern with serious Cuban influence. Cooler in summer than the rest of the state.
full dispatch→Columbia
Columbia is the South Carolina capital, USC Gamecock country, and home to one of the largest urban rivers (the Congaree) flowing right past downtown. The Saluda River outside town is a tubing destination locals swear by, and Congaree National Park's old-growth cypress is a 30-minute drive. The state museum is a sleeper good time. Slower-paced than Charleston, less touristy.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,527/mo
$1,551/mo
Median home price
Median home price
$289k
$255k
$34k less than Tallahassee
State income tax
State income tax
0%
6.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,806/mo
$6,241/mo
Tallahassee has $565/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
186 days
189 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
35 days
27 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
2 days
days below 20°F per year
Tallahassee has 8 more days above 95°F each year than Columbia.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
58 / 100
55 / 100
3.0 pts behind Tallahassee
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
7 routes
10 routes
3 more direct routes than Tallahassee
Metro size
Metro size
393k metro
857k metro
Tallahassee has 9.5x fewer events per month than Columbia.
the verdict
3
Tallahassee
categories won
3
Columbia
categories won
Tallahassee wins on money, Columbia wins on weather. Dead even.
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