with $100k coming in, swapping out of Asheville
changea dispatch from
santa rosa
CA
38.44°N
122.71°W
Santa Rosa is the gateway to Sonoma wine country, less polished than Napa but more lived-in. Charles Schulz lived here and the Snoopy museum is a delight. The Russian River redwoods are 30 minutes west. The city itself has rebuilt impressively after the 2017 fires, with a downtown that mixes wineries, breweries, and farm-to-table restaurants. Cooler than San Francisco in summer.
the verdict
the monthly premium over Asheville
Santa Rosa is the expensive option. The argument has to be entirely about the place, not the price.
a quick ledger.
$2,597/mo
49% more expensive than Asheville(vs $1,738/mo)
9.3%
$400/mo more in state tax than Asheville
vs 4.5% in Asheville
$4,961/mo
$1,259 less than Asheville
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$817k
90% more expensive than Asheville
vs $430k in Asheville
482k
vs 417k in Asheville
field notes, weather & such.
254
pleasant days a year, in santa rosa.
Asheville barely cracks 201 pleasant ones. Hot stretches show up, though: 28 days above 95° here, 0 in Asheville.
But the calendar thins out: Asheville stays 35.0× busier.
69/100
5% higher than Asheville
vs 66/100 in Asheville
Closest outdoor draw: Sonoma Coast State Park, 17.4 mi.
98/100
56% higher than Asheville
vs 63/100 in Asheville
4
50% fewer than Asheville
vs 8 nonstops in Asheville
in the same ballpark as santa rosa:
compare santa rosa with:
