01 · the cities
York
York calls itself the White Rose City, claims to be America's first capital (Continental Congress met here briefly in 1777), and is the home of the Harley-Davidson assembly plant (factory tours available). The market houses in town go back over 100 years. The downtown is brick and walkable, the surrounding farm country is gorgeous, and the Susquehanna River is a quick drive east. Quietly historic.
full dispatch→Birmingham
Birmingham was built on steel and reshaped by the civil rights movement, and you can feel both stories in the city. The Civil Rights Institute is essential, the food scene (Highlands Bar and Grill, Hot and Hot Fish Club, plenty more) is one of the most acclaimed in the South. The Vulcan statue, the largest cast-iron statue in the world, looks down on the city from Red Mountain. Younger than its reputation suggests.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,361/mo
$1,407/mo
Median home price
Median home price
$310k
$261k
$50k less than York
State income tax
State income tax
3.1%
5.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,717/mo
$6,510/mo
York has $207/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
159 days
171 days
12 more than York
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
4 days
28 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
27 days
4 days
days below 20°F per year
Birmingham has 24 more days above 95°F each year than York. York drops below 20°F on 23 more days per year than Birmingham.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
64 / 100
61 / 100
3.0 pts behind York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
12 routes
20 routes
8 more direct routes than York
Metro size
Metro size
465k metro
1.2M metro
York has 90.0x fewer events per month than Birmingham.
the verdict
4
York
categories won
4
Birmingham
categories won
York wins on money, Birmingham wins on weather. Dead even.
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