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→Mobile
Mobile threw the first Mardi Gras in America (1703, predating New Orleans), and the city still celebrates it with the same parade-and-moon-pie energy. The historic district has wrought-iron balconies and live oaks dripping Spanish moss. Mobile Bay seafood (especially fried shrimp and crab claws) is the local star. It's Gulf Coast, French-Spanish-British-Creole layered, and chiller than its bigger neighbors.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,095/mo
$1,302/mo
$1,793/mo less than San Luis Obispo (138%)
Median home price
Median home price
$934k
$194k
$741k less than San Luis Obispo
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
5.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,463/mo
$6,615/mo
Mobile has $2,152/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
225 days
78 fewer than San Luis Obispo
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
14 days
3 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
0 days
days below 20°F per year
San Luis Obispo has 11 more days above 95°F each year than Mobile.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
68 / 100
59 / 100
9.0 pts behind San Luis Obispo
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
3 routes
5 routes
Metro size
Metro size
282k metro
412k metro
San Luis Obispo has 2.4x fewer events per month than Mobile.
the verdict
2
San Luis Obispo
categories won
5
Mobile
categories won
Mobile wins on money. San Luis Obispo has the edge on lifestyle.
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