01 · the cities
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo (SLO to locals) sits halfway between LA and San Francisco on the central coast, with Cal Poly students, gorgeous wine country (Edna Valley and Paso Robles nearby), and a Thursday night farmers market that takes over downtown. It's been called the happiest city in America (multiple studies, Oprah included), and the vibe really does back that up. Bubblegum Alley is exactly what it sounds like. Mellow and beautiful.
full dispatch→Boulder
Boulder is the Flatirons rising right behind town, the Pearl Street Mall pedestrian shopping, and a population that runs more, climbs more, and bikes more than basically any other American city. CU keeps it young, the foothills keep it active, and the food scene leans organic-virtuous. The access to the Rockies is unmatched and the sunshine is relentless, and locals invest in the city like it's a lifestyle, not just an address.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,095/mo
$2,216/mo
$879/mo less than San Luis Obispo (40%)
Median home price
Median home price
$934k
$783k
$151k less than San Luis Obispo
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
4.4%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,463/mo
$5,751/mo
Boulder has $1,288/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
303 days
178 days
125 fewer than San Luis Obispo
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
14 days
13 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
42 days
days below 20°F per year
Boulder drops below 20°F on 42 more days per year than San Luis Obispo.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
68 / 100
79 / 100
11.0 pts ahead of San Luis Obispo
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
3 routes
169 routes
166 more direct routes than San Luis Obispo
Metro size
Metro size
282k metro
327k metro
San Luis Obispo has 1.7x more events per month than Boulder.
the verdict
2
San Luis Obispo
categories won
6
Boulder
categories won
Boulder wins on money and lifestyle. San Luis Obispo has the edge on weather.
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