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Weather: Lansing... I think. I grew up in the Cleveland area, and now live in Florida, and can say that I decidedly prefer the 4 season climate and dealing with cold for 4 months vs. the Florida heat. However, it's worth noting, Lansing is a few degrees colder for me than I had it in Cleveland, and Tallahassee doesn't get the extensive period of heat that further south in Florida does. It's still as hot or hotter during the summer, but everything is pushed back about 6 weeks on either end.
Culture: Are we talking like the culture of the people living there? Or like museums and theatre and such? If it's that initial one, it's subjective and I don't have much preference, if it's the ladder, then Lansing. I don't know how much those two cities differ on their museums and such (Michigan is older/more established though), but I know that from Lansing, one can go same night to cultural events in Detroit (perhaps a top 10 city in the US for high culture) in a little under 90 minutes. Tallahassee does not have a similar option.
Walkability/Transit: Haven't lived in either, so hard to tell. However, I think WalkScore is at least a decent indicator, and it says that Lansing is both more walkable and bikeable (neither is great though). However, as someone who knows both slightly, DT Tallahassee is perhaps a little more walkable than DT Lansing is. I think a primary factor here is residential population (MSU is in East Lansing, a bit away from Lansing itself.
Shopping: Probably both about even, but again I'm gonna lean towards Lansing. Lansing has two malls in reasonable half day trip distance (Somerset and Briarwood), that can't be found near Tallahassee.
Nightlife: Not completely sure, I'm guessing comparable, but would lean towards Tallahassee because of the more compact downtown and it's proximity to campus.
Education: Both MSU and FSU are rated in a similar tier, according to USNWR. Not sure the quality of area local schools
Location: Lansing is 90 minutes from Detroit/Canada, <2 hours from Lake Erie, Huron, Michigan, 3.5 hours from Chicago, Cleveland/CVNP and the Splendor of the UP, and around 5 hours from Louisville, Toronto/Niagara and Pittsburgh. Tallahassee is an hour from Florida's Natural Wonder Trinity (Florida Caverns, Torreya River Bluffs and Falling Waters), 90 minutes from good Gulf beaches, 2 hours from Providence Canyon, 3 hours from Jacksonville/Saint Augustine/The Atlantic, 4 hours from Atlanta/Savannah/Orlando/Tampa Bay/Theme Parks, and a little over 5 hours to New Orleans/Birmingham/Appalachian Trail. Both good groups, depending on taste, but I would probably take the former over the latter.
Outdoor Amenities: I'm gonna say this is a push. I think Tallahassee might win this one on it's head, but, I do prefer the climate of up north, which helps me to have a longer season of doing things up there.
I really don't think there's a clear winner here for me. If I had to say, just for me, I would say Lansing, but, my primary family network is virtually all in Florida now. If I were to get a job at FSU, I think I would enjoy it there over many other parts of the state, plus, I could always still visit family pretty easily on weekends (about a 4 hour trip). I will say that for my personal preferences, Detroit's proximity to Lansing helps a pretty good bit from a QOL standpoint.
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