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→Memphis
Memphis is dry-rub ribs, Beale Street neon, and the rooms where Stax and Sun Records changed pop music forever. Graceland is a tourist pilgrimage that's still genuinely moving. The Mississippi rolls past, the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel is essential, and the BBQ debate (rib joints vs. the chopped-pork houses) is a local pastime. Soulful in the literal sense.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,095/mo
$1,436/mo
$1,659/mo less than San Luis Obispo (116%)
Median home price
Median home price
$934k
$244k
$691k less than San Luis Obispo
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,463/mo
$6,897/mo
Memphis has $2,434/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
185 days
118 fewer than San Luis Obispo
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
14 days
6 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
5 days
days below 20°F per year
San Luis Obispo has 8 more days above 95°F each year than Memphis. Memphis drops below 20°F on 5 more days per year than San Luis Obispo.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
68 / 100
56 / 100
12.0 pts behind San Luis Obispo
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
3 routes
32 routes
29 more direct routes than San Luis Obispo
Metro size
Metro size
282k metro
1.3M metro
San Luis Obispo has 3.6x fewer events per month than Memphis.
the verdict
3
San Luis Obispo
categories won
6
Memphis
categories won
Memphis wins on money. San Luis Obispo has the edge on weather.
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