01 · the cities
Trenton
Trenton's downtown is anchored by the famous 'Trenton Makes The World Takes' bridge sign over the Delaware River, a relic of the city's manufacturing past. It's the New Jersey state capital, sitting roughly halfway between Philly and NYC, with quick train access to both. The food scene leans on solid Italian and an emerging Latin American presence. Workmanlike, with history.
full dispatch→Washington
Washington DC is power dressed in seersucker. The monuments glow at night, the Smithsonian museums are all free (yes, all of them), and the cherry blossoms in April make even cynical lobbyists pause for a selfie. It's one of the most international cities in America (embassies from everywhere), with food scenes to match. The vibe shifts every four years and the architecture stays magnificent through all of it.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,540/mo
$2,352/mo
$188/mo less than Trenton (8%)
Median home price
Median home price
$456k
$626k
$170k more than Trenton
State income tax
State income tax
6.4%
8.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,263/mo
$5,273/mo
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
171 days
177 days
6 more than Trenton
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
2 days
4 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
21 days
11 days
days below 20°F per year
Trenton drops below 20°F on 10 more days per year than Washington.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
71 / 100
87 / 100
16.0 pts ahead of Trenton
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
123 routes
160 routes
37 more direct routes than Trenton
Metro size
Metro size
382k metro
6.3M metro
Trenton has 14.6x fewer events per month than Washington.
the verdict
2
Trenton
categories won
6
Washington
categories won
Washington leads on weather and lifestyle and wins overall.
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