$100k a year, no longer in Santa Maria
changea dispatch from
harrisburg
PA
40.26°N
76.88°W
Harrisburg is the Pennsylvania state capital sitting on the Susquehanna River, with a gorgeous Beaux-Arts capitol building (Theodore Roosevelt called it the handsomest building he ever saw). City Island in the middle of the river is a small park with minor league baseball. Hershey is 15 minutes east (yes, that Hershey). Slower-paced than its metro neighbors.
in our guides
of 10
Best affordable cities to retire
read the guideof 10
Best cities to leave New York for
read the guideof 10
Best cities on the East Coast
read the guideof 10
Best cities to leave Boston for
read the guideof 10
Best cities to leave DC for
read the guideof 10
Best cities for creatives and artists
read the guideof 10
Affordable alternatives to Boise
read the guidethe verdict
less monthly outlay than Santa Maria
Harrisburg is the kind of cheap that changes the math. Same salary, a different life on the other side.
a quick ledger.
$1,446/mo
57% cheaper than Santa Maria(vs $3,352/mo)
3.07%
$519/mo less in state tax than Santa Maria
vs 9.3% in Santa Maria
$6,632/mo
$2,426 more than Santa Maria
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$309k
71% cheaper than Santa Maria
vs $1059k in Santa Maria
606k
vs 441k in Santa Maria
field notes, weather & such.
152
pleasant days a year, in harrisburg.
Santa Maria has the edge here, logging 337 pleasant days a year. Winter shows up, though: 33 days below 20° vs Santa Maria's 0.
69/100
17% higher than Santa Maria
vs 59/100 in Santa Maria
Closest outdoor draw: Gifford Pinchot State Park, 12.7 mi.
93/100
7% higher than Santa Maria
vs 87/100 in Santa Maria
12
500% more than Santa Maria
vs 2 nonstops in Santa Maria
cities that play in harrisburg's register:
