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→Santa Maria
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.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,813/mo
$3,352/mo
$539/mo more than Salinas (16%)
Median home price
Median home price
$862k
$1.1M
$197k more than Salinas
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
9.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,745/mo
$4,206/mo
Salinas has $539/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
337 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
0 days
days below 20°F per year
Salinas and Santa Maria have remarkably similar weather profiles overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
71 / 100
59 / 100
12.0 pts behind Salinas
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
6 routes
2 routes
4 fewer direct routes than Salinas
Metro size
Metro size
431k metro
441k metro
the verdict
5
Salinas
categories won
0
Santa Maria
categories won
Salinas wins this comparison, leading on money and lifestyle.
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