01 · the cities
San Diego
San Diego is the city most Californians secretly wish they lived in: 70°F, sunny, and a beach for every mood. Fish tacos are religion, Balboa Park is bigger than Central Park and packed with museums, and the craft beer scene is one of the best in the country. The zoo is world-famous and the burritos are aggressively underrated. Even the freeways feel relaxed here.
full dispatch→Roanoke
Roanoke is the Star City of the South, named for the enormous illuminated star on Mill Mountain that's been lighting up the valley since 1949. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs right past town. The downtown has come back beautifully with the Taubman Museum, breweries, and a thriving market. The surrounding mountains are gorgeous in every season. Smaller and more scenic than people expect.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,890/mo
$1,382/mo
$1,508/mo less than San Diego (109%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$296k
$714k less than San Diego
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
5.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,668/mo
$6,472/mo
Roanoke has $1,804/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
332 days
179 days
153 fewer than San Diego
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
2 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
21 days
days below 20°F per year
Roanoke drops below 20°F on 21 more days per year than San Diego.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
75 / 100
69 / 100
6.0 pts behind San Diego
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
55 routes
9 routes
46 fewer direct routes than San Diego
Metro size
Metro size
3.3M metro
314k metro
San Diego has 14.5x more events per month than Roanoke.
the verdict
4
San Diego
categories won
4
Roanoke
categories won
San Diego wins on weather and lifestyle, Roanoke wins on money. Dead even.
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