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→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→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,352/mo
$2,540/mo
$188/mo more than Washington (7%)
Median home price
Median home price
$626k
$456k
$170k less than Washington
State income tax
State income tax
8.5%
6.4%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,273/mo
$5,263/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
177 days
171 days
6 fewer than Washington
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
4 days
2 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
11 days
21 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
87 / 100
71 / 100
16.0 pts behind Washington
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
160 routes
123 routes
37 fewer direct routes than Washington
Metro size
Metro size
6.3M metro
382k metro
Washington has 14.6x more events per month than Trenton.
the verdict
6
Washington
categories won
2
Trenton
categories won
Washington leads on weather and lifestyle and wins overall.
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