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→Hickory
Hickory is North Carolina's furniture capital, with the Hickory Furniture Mart and the surrounding factories shaping the local economy. The downtown has come back nicely with breweries and a walkable feel. The Blue Ridge foothills start just outside town. Lake Hickory is right there for boating. Cheaper than the bigger NC cities, with mountain access an hour away.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,095/mo
$1,434/mo
$1,661/mo less than San Luis Obispo (116%)
Median home price
Median home price
$934k
$268k
$666k less than San Luis Obispo
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
4.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,463/mo
$6,524/mo
Hickory has $2,061/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
189 days
114 fewer than San Luis Obispo
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
14 days
11 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
4 days
days below 20°F per year
San Luis Obispo edges ahead on pleasant days, but both cities have comparable comfort overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
68 / 100
64 / 100
4.0 pts behind San Luis Obispo
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
3 routes
0 routes
3 fewer direct routes than San Luis Obispo
Metro size
Metro size
282k metro
370k metro
San Luis Obispo has 1.9x fewer events per month than Hickory.
the verdict
3
San Luis Obispo
categories won
4
Hickory
categories won
Hickory wins on money. San Luis Obispo has the edge on weather and lifestyle.
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