01 · the cities
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→Boulder
Boulder is the Flatirons rising right behind town, the Pearl Street Mall pedestrian shopping, and a population that runs more, climbs more, and bikes more than basically any other American city. CU keeps it young, the foothills keep it active, and the food scene leans organic-virtuous. The access to the Rockies is unmatched and the sunshine is relentless, and locals invest in the city like it's a lifestyle, not just an address.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,352/mo
$2,216/mo
$136/mo less than Washington (6%)
Median home price
Median home price
$626k
$783k
$157k more than Washington
State income tax
State income tax
8.5%
4.4%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,273/mo
$5,751/mo
Boulder has $478/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
177 days
178 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
4 days
13 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
11 days
42 days
days below 20°F per year
Boulder has 9 more days above 95°F each year than Washington. Boulder drops below 20°F on 31 more days per year than Washington.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
87 / 100
79 / 100
8.0 pts behind Washington
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
160 routes
169 routes
9 more direct routes than Washington
Metro size
Metro size
6.3M metro
327k metro
Washington has 26.8x more events per month than Boulder.
the verdict
4
Washington
categories won
4
Boulder
categories won
Washington wins on weather, Boulder wins on money. Dead even.
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