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→Provo
Provo is BYU and the Mormon culture's center of gravity, with a downtown that's quieter than most college towns (no Saturday football beer crowds here). The Wasatch Mountains rise right behind it, with Sundance ski resort 30 minutes up the canyon. Provo Canyon and Bridal Veil Falls are summer go-tos. The tech scene (Qualtrics, Domo) has reshaped the local economy. Beautiful in a calm, ordered way.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,813/mo
$1,743/mo
$1,070/mo less than Salinas (61%)
Median home price
Median home price
$862k
$559k
$303k less than Salinas
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
4.7%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,745/mo
$6,203/mo
Provo has $1,458/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
171 days
164 fewer than Salinas
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
12 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
44 days
days below 20°F per year
Provo has 12 more days above 95°F each year than Salinas. Provo drops below 20°F on 44 more days per year than Salinas.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
71 / 100
81 / 100
10.0 pts ahead of Salinas
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
6 routes
91 routes
85 more direct routes than Salinas
Metro size
Metro size
431k metro
733k metro
the verdict
3
Salinas
categories won
6
Provo
categories won
Provo wins on money and lifestyle. Salinas has the edge on weather.
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