same $100k income, fresh start from Dayton
changea dispatch from
santa maria
CA
34.95°N
120.44°W
Santa Maria has its own style of barbecue (tri-tip cooked over red oak with pinquito beans and salsa), which is a legitimate regional tradition that locals will fight you about. The surrounding Santa Maria Valley is becoming serious wine country (especially Pinot Noir and Chardonnay). It's quieter and more affordable than its central coast neighbors. The Pacific is right there.
in our guides
the verdict
more expensive each month than Dayton
Santa Maria costs noticeably more than Dayton. You'd be paying for Santa Maria itself, not for breathing room around it.
a quick ledger.
$3,352/mo
154% more expensive than Dayton(vs $1,321/mo)
9.3%
$443/mo more in state tax than Dayton
vs 3.99% in Dayton
$4,206/mo
$2,474 less than Dayton
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$1059k
663% more expensive than Dayton
vs $139k in Dayton
441k
vs 808k in Dayton
field notes, weather & such.
337
pleasant days a year, in santa maria.
Dayton only manages 171 of those.
But the calendar thins out: Dayton stays Infinity× busier.
59/100
5% lower than Dayton
vs 62/100 in Dayton
Closest outdoor draw: Channel Islands National Park, 73 mi.
87/100
2% lower than Dayton
vs 89/100 in Dayton
2
87% fewer than Dayton
vs 16 nonstops in Dayton
if santa maria appeals, also worth a look:
