New York or Seattle: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Seattle wins on more indicators: 10 of 12 against 1.
- Money: Seattle 0:4
- Climate and risks: Seattle 1:6
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
New York
Indicator
Seattle
Money
Better: Seattle (0 : 4)Per capita income
higher is better
✗$94,460
202410% lower
✓$104,529
202411% higher
Typical rent
lower is better
✗$3,546
2026-09-3058% higher
✓$2,250
2026-09-3037% lower
Typical home value
lower is better
✗$730,949
2026-09-301% higher
✓$720,147
2026-09-301% lower
Price level
lower is better
✗112.6 100 = US average
20241% higher
✓111.1 100 = US average
20241% lower
Climate and risks
Better: Seattle (1 : 6)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✗52 AQI
202411% higher
✓47 AQI
202410% lower
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✗24 days per year
2024500% higher
✓4 days per year
202483% lower
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✗41 days per year
2016-2025233% higher
✓12 days per year
2016-202570% lower
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
lower is better
✗3 days per year
2016-2025
✓0 days per year
2016-2025
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
tie
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
11 days per year
2016-2025
1 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2,313 °C·days per year
2016-2025
2,283 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
769 °C·days per year
2016-2025
196 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
106 days per year
2016-2025
131 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
5 days per year
2016-2025
2 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,277 mm per year
2016-2025
998 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.3 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
8.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
15.1 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
16.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
57 %
2021-2025
72 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✗20 days per year
2021-20259800% higher
✓0 days per year
2021-202599% lower
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2 km
2006-2025
3 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
lower is better
✓0.05 per year
2006-202550% lower
✗0.10 per year
2006-2025100% higher
Strongest earthquake in the period
lower is better
✗4.8 magnitude
2006-20253% higher
✓4.7 magnitude
2006-20253% lower
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
19,940,274 people
2024
4,145,494 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: New York, Seattle.