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→Duluth
Duluth sits on the western tip of Lake Superior, with the iconic Aerial Lift Bridge lifting for ships entering the harbor. Bob Dylan was born here. The lakefront walking path goes for miles. Canal Park has the local food and brewery scene. Summer hiking, kayaking, and shoreline views are jaw-dropping, and winter turns the city into a snow-lit lakeside cathedral. Wild and beautiful.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,095/mo
$1,559/mo
$1,536/mo less than San Luis Obispo (99%)
Median home price
Median home price
$934k
$252k
$682k less than San Luis Obispo
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
7.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,463/mo
$6,120/mo
Duluth has $1,657/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
132 days
171 fewer than San Luis Obispo
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
14 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
105 days
days below 20°F per year
San Luis Obispo has 14 more days above 95°F each year than Duluth. Duluth drops below 20°F on 105 more days per year than San Luis Obispo.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
68 / 100
73 / 100
5.0 pts ahead of San Luis Obispo
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
3 routes
4 routes
Metro size
Metro size
282k metro
282k metro
San Luis Obispo has 3.0x fewer events per month than Duluth.
the verdict
2
San Luis Obispo
categories won
6
Duluth
categories won
Duluth wins on money and lifestyle. San Luis Obispo has the edge on weather.
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