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→Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City sits in a bowl of mountains so close you can be at a ski lift in 30 minutes. The grid is laid out from Temple Square in clean numbered streets that make navigation almost too easy. The Great Salt Lake glints west, the Wasatch towers east, and the city itself has loosened up into a real food and bar scene in the last decade. The powder really is that light.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,813/mo
$1,608/mo
$1,205/mo less than Salinas (75%)
Median home price
Median home price
$862k
$584k
$278k less than Salinas
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
4.7%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,745/mo
$6,338/mo
Salt Lake City has $1,593/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
168 days
167 fewer than Salinas
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
23 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
33 days
days below 20°F per year
Salt Lake City has 23 more days above 95°F each year than Salinas. Salt Lake City drops below 20°F on 33 more days per year than Salinas.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
71 / 100
78 / 100
7.0 pts ahead of Salinas
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
6 routes
90 routes
84 more direct routes than Salinas
Metro size
Metro size
431k metro
1.3M metro
the verdict
3
Salinas
categories won
6
Salt Lake City
categories won
Salt Lake City wins on money and lifestyle. Salinas has the edge on weather.
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