01 · the cities
Salinas
Salinas is the Salad Bowl of the World, where most of the country's leafy greens, strawberries, and broccoli come from. John Steinbeck grew up here and the National Steinbeck Center downtown is excellent. The Salinas Rodeo is a century-old summer event. The Monterey Bay is 20 minutes west, but the city itself is a working ag town with strong Mexican-American culture.
full dispatch→Lubbock
Lubbock is Texas Tech, Buddy Holly's hometown (the museum downtown is a delight), and the heart of West Texas cotton country. The flatness goes on forever, the sunsets are huge, and the wide sky makes every night feel like a planetarium. The food scene leans BBQ and Tex-Mex. The Llano Estacado wine region is right outside town. Friendly and quietly cool.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,813/mo
$1,384/mo
$1,429/mo less than Salinas (103%)
Median home price
Median home price
$862k
$211k
$651k less than Salinas
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,745/mo
$6,949/mo
Lubbock has $2,204/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
335 days
186 days
149 fewer than Salinas
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
61 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
7 days
days below 20°F per year
Lubbock has 61 more days above 95°F each year than Salinas. Lubbock drops below 20°F on 7 more days per year than Salinas.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
71 / 100
5 / 100
66.0 pts behind Salinas
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
6 routes
7 routes
Metro size
Metro size
431k metro
360k metro
the verdict
4
Salinas
categories won
4
Lubbock
categories won
Salinas wins on weather and lifestyle, Lubbock wins on money. Dead even.
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