diff --git a/static/compare.html b/static/compare.html
index 2598665..70c41b9 100644
--- a/static/compare.html
+++ b/static/compare.html
@@ -97,6 +97,10 @@
          often it runs colder or warmer, and by how much.</p>
     </div>
 
+    <!-- Baseline: every place's typical temperature on one shared axis, so their
+         baselines line up against each other and the shaded comfort range. -->
+    <section id="cmp-baseline" class="cmp-baseline" hidden></section>
+
     <div id="cmp-results" class="cmp-results"></div>
 
     <!-- Climate distribution, independent of the comfort filter: how each place's
diff --git a/static/compare.js b/static/compare.js
index 023edaf..8c6f4ad 100644
--- a/static/compare.js
+++ b/static/compare.js
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ const locList = document.getElementById("cmp-loc-list");
 const params = document.getElementById("cmp-params");
 const placeholder = document.getElementById("cmp-placeholder");
 const head = document.getElementById("cmp-head");
+const baseline = document.getElementById("cmp-baseline");
 const results = document.getElementById("cmp-results");
 const loInput = document.getElementById("cmp-lo");
 const hiInput = document.getElementById("cmp-hi");
@@ -249,24 +250,37 @@ function basisTemp(r) {
   return hi != null && lo != null ? (hi + lo) / 2 : null;   // mean
 }
 
+// A quantile (0–1) of an ascending-sorted array, linearly interpolated.
+function quantile(sorted, q) {
+  if (!sorted.length) return null;
+  const i = (sorted.length - 1) * q, lo = Math.floor(i), hi = Math.ceil(i);
+  return lo === hi ? sorted[lo] : sorted[lo] + (sorted[hi] - sorted[lo]) * (i - lo);
+}
+
 function computeStats(series) {
-  let n = 0, below = 0, above = 0, comf = 0, sumBelow = 0, sumAbove = 0, sumMiss = 0;
+  let below = 0, above = 0, comf = 0, sumBelow = 0, sumAbove = 0, sumMiss = 0, sumTemp = 0;
+  const temps = [];   // every valid basis temp (°F), for the average + spread
   for (const r of series) {
     const t = basisTemp(r);
     if (t == null || isNaN(t)) continue;
-    n++;
+    temps.push(t);
+    sumTemp += t;
     // Distance outside the comfort range (0 when inside) drives the "typical miss".
     if (t < lo) { below++; const m = lo - t; sumBelow += m; sumMiss += m; }
     else if (t > hi) { above++; const m = t - hi; sumAbove += m; sumMiss += m; }
     else comf++;
   }
+  const n = temps.length;
   if (!n) return null;
+  temps.sort((a, b) => a - b);
   return {
     n, comf, below, above,
     comfortPct: 100 * comf / n, belowPct: 100 * below / n, abovePct: 100 * above / n,
     avgBelow: below ? sumBelow / below : 0,
     avgAbove: above ? sumAbove / above : 0,
     mad: sumMiss / n,
+    // Baseline strip: the typical temperature (°F) and the middle-80% spread.
+    avgTemp: sumTemp / n, p10: quantile(temps, 0.1), p90: quantile(temps, 0.9),
   };
 }
 
@@ -277,42 +291,86 @@ const deg = (v) => fmtDelta(v);
 
 function renderLocList() {
   locList.innerHTML = locations.map((l, i) => {
-    let label, cls = "cmp-chip";
-    // Show the raw coordinates while pending/loading (with the loading class still
-    // driving the spinner); once scored, l.name holds the resolved neighborhood +
-    // city, so the coordinates are replaced live by the place name.
+    let label, cls = "cmp-chip", lead = "";
+    // Coordinates show until the place name resolves. A spinning ring marks a live
+    // load; a "queued" dot marks a location waiting for the next Refresh tap. Once
+    // scored, l.name holds the resolved neighborhood + city.
     const coords = `${l.lat.toFixed(2)}, ${l.lon.toFixed(2)}`;
-    if (l.loading) { label = l.name || coords; cls += " loading"; }
+    if (l.loading) { label = l.name || coords; cls += " loading"; lead = `<span class="cmp-spinner cmp-spinner-chip" aria-hidden="true"></span>`; }
     else if (l.error) { label = "Couldn't load"; cls += " error"; }
-    else if (!l.series) { label = l.name || coords; cls += " pending"; }
+    else if (!l.series) { label = l.name || coords; cls += " pending"; lead = `<span class="cmp-chip-dot" aria-hidden="true"></span>`; }
     else { label = l.name; }
-    return `<li class="${cls}"><span class="cmp-chip-name">${label}</span>` +
+    return `<li class="${cls}">${lead}<span class="cmp-chip-name">${label}</span>` +
            `<button type="button" class="cmp-chip-x" data-i="${i}" aria-label="Remove ${label}">&times;</button></li>`;
   }).join("");
 }
 
+// A ranked place: the comfort share up top, then a diverging bar whose colder days
+// grow left of a fixed center (the comfort zone) and warmer days grow right — so a
+// place that runs cold vs one that runs hot read as mirror images on a shared scale.
 function rankCard(loc, s, rank) {
-  const bar = `<div class="cmp-bar" role="img" aria-label="${pct(s.belowPct)} colder, ${pct(s.comfortPct)} in comfort, ${pct(s.abovePct)} warmer">` +
-    `<span class="cmp-seg cmp-below" style="flex-basis:${s.belowPct}%"></span>` +
-    `<span class="cmp-seg cmp-comfort" style="flex-basis:${s.comfortPct}%"></span>` +
-    `<span class="cmp-seg cmp-above" style="flex-basis:${s.abovePct}%"></span></div>`;
-  const stats =
-    `<div class="cmp-stats">` +
-      `<div class="cmp-stat cmp-s-below"><span class="cmp-k">Colder</span><span class="cmp-v">${pct(s.belowPct)}</span><span class="cmp-d">${s.below ? `avg ${deg(s.avgBelow)} below` : "—"}</span></div>` +
-      `<div class="cmp-stat cmp-s-comfort"><span class="cmp-k">In comfort</span><span class="cmp-v">${pct(s.comfortPct)}</span><span class="cmp-d">${fmtTemp(lo)}–${fmtTemp(hi)}</span></div>` +
-      `<div class="cmp-stat cmp-s-above"><span class="cmp-k">Warmer</span><span class="cmp-v">${pct(s.abovePct)}</span><span class="cmp-d">${s.above ? `avg ${deg(s.avgAbove)} above` : "—"}</span></div>` +
+  const win = rank === 1;
+  const bar = `<div class="cmp-dv" role="img" aria-label="${pct(s.belowPct)} colder, ${pct(s.comfortPct)} in comfort, ${pct(s.abovePct)} warmer">` +
+    `<div class="cmp-dv-side cmp-dv-left"><span class="cmp-dv-fill cmp-below" style="width:${s.belowPct}%"></span></div>` +
+    `<span class="cmp-dv-mid" aria-hidden="true"></span>` +
+    `<div class="cmp-dv-side cmp-dv-right"><span class="cmp-dv-fill cmp-above" style="width:${s.abovePct}%"></span></div></div>`;
+  const cap =
+    `<div class="cmp-dv-cap">` +
+      `<span class="cmp-cap cmp-cap-below">${pct(s.belowPct)} colder${s.below ? ` · avg ${deg(s.avgBelow)} under` : ""}</span>` +
+      `<span class="cmp-cap cmp-cap-above">${s.above ? `avg ${deg(s.avgAbove)} over · ` : ""}${pct(s.abovePct)} warmer</span>` +
     `</div>`;
-  return `<div class="cmp-card">` +
+  const sub = win ? `<span class="cmp-best">★ Best match</span> · ${s.n} days` : `${s.n} days`;
+  return `<div class="cmp-card${win ? " cmp-win" : ""}">` +
     `<div class="cmp-card-top">` +
-      `<span class="cmp-rank">#${rank}</span>` +
-      `<div class="cmp-card-name"><span class="cmp-name">${loc.name}</span><span class="cmp-daycount">${s.n} days</span></div>` +
+      `<span class="cmp-rank">${rank}</span>` +
+      `<div class="cmp-card-name"><span class="cmp-name">${loc.name}</span><span class="cmp-daycount">${sub}</span></div>` +
       `<div class="cmp-big"><b>${pct(s.comfortPct)}</b><span>in comfort</span></div>` +
     `</div>` +
-    bar + stats +
+    bar + cap +
     `<div class="cmp-mad">Typical day misses comfort by <b>${deg(s.mad)}</b></div>` +
   `</div>`;
 }
 
+// A placeholder card shown while a location's data is still streaming in, so the
+// results don't jump when it resolves. Animated by CSS (.cmp-skel).
+const skeletonRow = () => `<div class="cmp-card cmp-skel" aria-hidden="true">` +
+    `<div class="cmp-skel-top"><span class="cmp-skel-badge"></span>` +
+    `<span class="cmp-skel-name"></span><span class="cmp-skel-big"></span></div>` +
+    `<div class="cmp-skel-bar"></div></div>`;
+
+// Baseline strip: every place's typical basis temperature on one shared °F axis,
+// with the comfort range shaded, so the places' baselines line up for direct
+// comparison. Each row shows the average (dot) and the middle-80% spread (bar),
+// colored by where the average sits relative to the comfort range.
+function renderBaseline(scored) {
+  if (!scored.length) { baseline.hidden = true; baseline.innerHTML = ""; return; }
+  let min = lo, max = hi;
+  for (const { s } of scored) { min = Math.min(min, s.p10); max = Math.max(max, s.p90); }
+  const pad = Math.max(3, (max - min) * 0.06);   // keep markers off the edges
+  min -= pad; max += pad;
+  const span = max - min || 1;
+  const posF = (v) => clamp((v - min) / span * 100, 0, 100);
+  const bandL = posF(lo), bandR = posF(hi);
+  const posClass = (t) => (t < lo ? "cmp-below" : t > hi ? "cmp-above" : "cmp-comfort");
+  const rows = scored.map(({ loc, s }) => {
+    const cls = posClass(s.avgTemp), a = posF(s.avgTemp);
+    return `<div class="cmp-bl-row">` +
+      `<span class="cmp-bl-name">${loc.name}</span>` +
+      `<div class="cmp-bl-track" role="img" aria-label="${loc.name}: average ${fmtTemp(s.avgTemp)}, typical ${fmtTemp(s.p10)} to ${fmtTemp(s.p90)}">` +
+        `<span class="cmp-bl-band" style="left:${bandL}%;right:${100 - bandR}%"></span>` +
+        `<span class="cmp-bl-spread ${cls}" style="left:${posF(s.p10)}%;right:${100 - posF(s.p90)}%"></span>` +
+        `<span class="cmp-bl-dot ${cls}" style="left:${a}%"></span>` +
+        `<span class="cmp-bl-val" style="left:${a}%">${fmtTemp(s.avgTemp)}</span>` +
+      `</div></div>`;
+  }).join("");
+  baseline.hidden = false;
+  baseline.innerHTML =
+    `<div class="cmp-bl-head">Typical temperature by place ` +
+      `<span class="hint">dot = average · bar = middle-80% of days · shaded = your comfort range</span></div>` +
+    `<div class="cmp-bl-rows">${rows}</div>` +
+    `<div class="cmp-bl-axis"><span>${fmtTemp(min)}</span><span>${fmtTemp((min + max) / 2)}</span><span>${fmtTemp(max)}</span></div>`;
+}
+
 function renderResults() {
   const loading = locations.filter((l) => l.loading).length;
   const scored = locations
@@ -321,9 +379,14 @@ function renderResults() {
   // Best comfort share first; break ties by the smaller typical miss.
   scored.sort((a, b) => (b.s.comfortPct - a.s.comfortPct) || (a.s.mad - b.s.mad));
 
+  renderBaseline(scored);
+
   if (!scored.length) {
     head.hidden = true;
-    results.innerHTML = loading ? `<p class="spinner">Loading daily weather…</p>` : "";
+    results.innerHTML = loading
+      ? `<p class="cmp-loading"><span class="cmp-spinner"></span>Loading daily weather…</p>` +
+        Array.from({ length: Math.min(loading, 3) }, skeletonRow).join("")
+      : "";
     return;
   }
 
@@ -335,9 +398,11 @@ function renderResults() {
     : `<b>${win.loc.name}</b>: ${pct(win.s.comfortPct)} of days land in ${fmtTemp(lo)}–${fmtTemp(hi)}`;
   head.hidden = false;
   head.innerHTML = `<h2>${lead}</h2>` +
-    `<p class="meta">By ${BASIS_LABEL[basis]} · ${span}${loading ? ` · loading ${loading} more…` : ""}</p>`;
+    `<p class="meta">By ${BASIS_LABEL[basis]} · ${span}` +
+      `${loading ? ` · <span class="cmp-loading-inline"><span class="cmp-spinner"></span>loading ${loading} more…</span>` : ""}</p>`;
 
-  results.innerHTML = scored.map((x, i) => rankCard(x.loc, x.s, i + 1)).join("");
+  results.innerHTML = scored.map((x, i) => rankCard(x.loc, x.s, i + 1)).join("") +
+    (loading ? Array.from({ length: loading }, skeletonRow).join("") : "");
 }
 
 // ---- distribution (independent of the comfort filter) ----
diff --git a/static/style.css b/static/style.css
index de13b53..d35054d 100644
--- a/static/style.css
+++ b/static/style.css
@@ -825,10 +825,13 @@ main { max-width: 1200px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 20px 24px 60px; }
 /* Ranked result cards. */
 .cmp-results { display: grid; gap: 14px; }
 .cmp-card { border: 1px solid var(--border); border-radius: 12px; background: var(--surface); padding: 16px 18px; }
-.cmp-card:first-child { border-color: var(--accent); }
 .cmp-card-top { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px; }
-.cmp-rank { font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700; color: var(--muted); flex: 0 0 auto; }
-.cmp-card:first-child .cmp-rank { color: var(--accent); }
+/* Rank badge: a filled disc — accent for the winner, muted for the rest. */
+.cmp-rank {
+  flex: 0 0 auto; width: 26px; height: 26px; border-radius: 50%;
+  display: grid; place-items: center; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 800;
+  background: var(--surface-2); color: var(--muted);
+}
 .cmp-card-name { flex: 1 1 auto; min-width: 0; }
 .cmp-name { display: block; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; }
 .cmp-daycount { font-size: 12px; color: var(--muted); }
@@ -836,25 +839,84 @@ main { max-width: 1200px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 20px 24px 60px; }
 .cmp-big b { display: block; font-size: 22px; color: var(--normal); line-height: 1.1; }
 .cmp-big span { font-size: 10.5px; color: var(--muted); text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: .04em; }
 
-.cmp-bar { display: flex; height: 14px; border-radius: 7px; overflow: hidden; margin: 12px 0 10px; background: var(--surface-2); }
-.cmp-seg { display: block; height: 100%; }
-/* Scoped to the bar segments — .cmp-comfort is also the comfort-slider param's
-   class, which must not inherit the green fill. */
-.cmp-seg.cmp-below { background: var(--cold); }
-.cmp-seg.cmp-comfort { background: var(--normal); }
-.cmp-seg.cmp-above { background: var(--hot); }
+/* Winner: accent frame + badge, and a "Best match" flag on the subline. */
+.cmp-win { border-color: var(--accent); box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 1px var(--accent); }
+.cmp-win .cmp-rank { background: var(--accent); color: #1a1206; }
+.cmp-best { color: var(--accent); font-weight: 700; }
 
-.cmp-stats { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr); gap: 10px; }
-.cmp-stat { text-align: center; padding: 8px 4px; border-radius: 8px; background: var(--surface-2); }
-.cmp-k { display: block; font-size: 11px; color: var(--muted); text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: .03em; }
-.cmp-v { display: block; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; }
-.cmp-d { display: block; font-size: 11.5px; color: var(--muted); }
-.cmp-s-below .cmp-v { color: var(--cold); }
-.cmp-s-comfort .cmp-v { color: var(--normal); }
-.cmp-s-above .cmp-v { color: var(--hot); }
-.cmp-mad { margin: 12px 0 0; font-size: 13px; color: var(--muted); }
+/* Diverging comfort bar: a fixed center marks the comfort zone; colder days grow
+   left of it, warmer days grow right. Both halves share one 0–100% scale, so a
+   cold-skewed place and a hot-skewed one mirror each other and compare at a glance. */
+.cmp-dv { display: flex; align-items: stretch; height: 16px; margin: 14px 0 8px; }
+.cmp-dv-side { flex: 1 1 0; position: relative; background: var(--surface-2); overflow: hidden; }
+.cmp-dv-left { border-radius: 8px 0 0 8px; }
+.cmp-dv-right { border-radius: 0 8px 8px 0; }
+.cmp-dv-fill { position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; }
+.cmp-dv-left .cmp-dv-fill { right: 0; }    /* colder grows leftward from center */
+.cmp-dv-right .cmp-dv-fill { left: 0; }    /* warmer grows rightward from center */
+.cmp-dv-fill.cmp-below { background: var(--cold); }
+.cmp-dv-fill.cmp-above { background: var(--hot); }
+.cmp-dv-mid { flex: 0 0 4px; background: var(--normal); }   /* the comfort-zone marker */
+
+.cmp-dv-cap { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; gap: 10px; font-size: 12px; }
+.cmp-cap-below { color: var(--cold); }
+.cmp-cap-above { color: var(--hot); text-align: right; }
+.cmp-mad { margin: 10px 0 0; font-size: 13px; color: var(--muted); }
 .cmp-mad b { color: var(--text); }
 
+/* Baseline strip: every place's typical basis temperature on one shared °F axis,
+   with the comfort range shaded, so the places' baselines line up side by side. */
+.cmp-baseline { margin: 0 0 18px; padding: 14px 16px; border: 1px solid var(--border); border-radius: 12px; background: var(--surface); }
+.cmp-baseline[hidden] { display: none; }
+.cmp-bl-head { font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; }
+.cmp-bl-head .hint { display: block; font-weight: 400; font-size: 11.5px; color: var(--muted); margin: 2px 0 12px; max-width: none; }
+.cmp-bl-rows { display: grid; gap: 10px; }
+.cmp-bl-row { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 120px 1fr; align-items: center; gap: 12px; }
+.cmp-bl-name { font-size: 13px; font-weight: 600; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; }
+.cmp-bl-track { position: relative; height: 26px; }
+.cmp-bl-band {
+  position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; border-radius: 3px;
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--normal) 20%, transparent);
+  outline: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--normal) 50%, transparent); outline-offset: -1px;
+}
+.cmp-bl-spread { position: absolute; top: 17px; height: 4px; transform: translateY(-50%); border-radius: 2px; opacity: .6; }
+.cmp-bl-dot { position: absolute; top: 17px; width: 12px; height: 12px; border-radius: 50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%); border: 2px solid var(--surface); }
+.cmp-bl-val { position: absolute; top: 1px; transform: translateX(-50%); font-size: 10.5px; font-weight: 700; color: var(--text); white-space: nowrap; }
+.cmp-bl-spread.cmp-below, .cmp-bl-dot.cmp-below { background: var(--cold); }
+.cmp-bl-spread.cmp-comfort, .cmp-bl-dot.cmp-comfort { background: var(--normal); }
+.cmp-bl-spread.cmp-above, .cmp-bl-dot.cmp-above { background: var(--hot); }
+.cmp-bl-axis { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; margin: 8px 0 0 132px; font-size: 11px; color: var(--muted); }
+
+/* Loading affordances: a spinning ring (chips + header) and shimmering skeleton
+   cards, so a still-loading place is obvious and the results don't pop in cold. */
+@keyframes cmp-spin { to { transform: rotate(360deg); } }
+@keyframes cmp-shimmer { 100% { background-position: -200% 0; } }
+.cmp-spinner {
+  display: inline-block; width: 14px; height: 14px; border-radius: 50%; box-sizing: border-box;
+  border: 2px solid var(--border); border-top-color: var(--accent);
+  animation: cmp-spin .7s linear infinite; vertical-align: -2px;
+}
+.cmp-spinner-chip { width: 12px; height: 12px; }
+.cmp-chip-dot { display: inline-block; width: 7px; height: 7px; border-radius: 50%; background: var(--muted); opacity: .55; }
+.cmp-loading { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 8px; margin: 0 0 14px; color: var(--muted); font-size: 14px; }
+.cmp-loading-inline { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 6px; }
+.cmp-loading-inline .cmp-spinner { width: 12px; height: 12px; }
+
+.cmp-skel-top { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px; }
+.cmp-skel-badge, .cmp-skel-name, .cmp-skel-big, .cmp-skel-bar {
+  display: block; border-radius: 6px;
+  background: linear-gradient(90deg, var(--surface-2) 25%, var(--border) 37%, var(--surface-2) 63%);
+  background-size: 200% 100%; animation: cmp-shimmer 1.3s ease-in-out infinite;
+}
+.cmp-skel-badge { width: 26px; height: 26px; border-radius: 50%; flex: 0 0 auto; }
+.cmp-skel-name { flex: 1 1 auto; height: 16px; }
+.cmp-skel-big { width: 56px; height: 22px; flex: 0 0 auto; }
+.cmp-skel-bar { height: 16px; margin-top: 16px; }
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
+  .cmp-spinner { animation-duration: 1.4s; }
+  .cmp-skel-badge, .cmp-skel-name, .cmp-skel-big, .cmp-skel-bar { animation: none; }
+}
+
 /* Dual-handle comfort slicer: two range inputs overlaid on a shared track, with a
    fill marking the selected span. Only the thumbs take pointer events, so both
    handles stay grabbable even where the inputs overlap. */
@@ -980,4 +1042,10 @@ main { max-width: 1200px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 20px 24px 60px; }
   .cmp-params { grid-template-columns: 1fr; padding: 14px; }
   .cmp-basis-block .metric-toggle button { flex: 1 0 22%; padding: 10px 4px; }
   .cmp-big b { font-size: 20px; }
+  /* Baseline strip: tighten the name gutter and shrink text so the shared axis
+     still fits a phone; keep the axis ticks aligned to the narrower track. */
+  .cmp-bl-row { grid-template-columns: 84px 1fr; gap: 8px; }
+  .cmp-bl-name { font-size: 12px; }
+  .cmp-bl-axis { margin-left: 92px; }
+  .cmp-dv-cap { font-size: 11px; }
 }