with $100k coming in, swapping out of Worcester

change
San Luis Obispo, CA cityscape

from worcester

San Luis Obispo

ca · metro 282k

photo: Juan Montes / pexels

a dispatch from

san luis obispo

CA

35.28°N

120.66°W

San Luis Obispo (SLO to locals) sits halfway between LA and San Francisco on the central coast, with Cal Poly students, gorgeous wine country (Edna Valley and Paso Robles nearby), and a Thursday night farmers market that takes over downtown. It's been called the happiest city in America (multiple studies, Oprah included), and the vibe really does back that up. Bubblegum Alley is exactly what it sounds like. Mellow and beautiful.

metro282k

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,314

more expensive each month than Worcester

San Luis Obispo doesn't pretend to be affordable. Move here for what San Luis Obispo is, not for what it leaves on your monthly ledger.
landable, recorded on the san luis obispo entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$3,095/mo

45% more expensive than Worcester(vs $2,140/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$358/mo more in state tax than Worcester

vs 5% in Worcester

03after rent

$4,463/mo

$1,314 less than Worcester

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$934k

92% more expensive than Worcester

vs $486k in Worcester

05metro size

282k

vs 867k in Worcester

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

303

pleasant days a year, in san luis obispo.

Worcester barely cracks 148 pleasant ones.

But the calendar thins out: Worcester stays 3.0× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

15% higher than Worcester

vs 59/100 in Worcester

Closest outdoor draw: Montaña de Oro State Park, 6.7 mi.

·walk score®

98/100

9% higher than Worcester

vs 90/100 in Worcester

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

50% more than Worcester

vs 2 nonstops in Worcester

04 · see also

if san luis obispo appeals, also worth a look:

see also

oxnard

$100/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

honolulu

$111/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

naples

$1,151/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare san luis obispo with:

OxnardHonoluluNaples