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→Naples
Naples brings wealthy retirees to the Gulf coast for genuinely some of the prettiest beaches in Florida, and the sunsets at the pier are a community ritual (everyone gathers, no one talks). The downtown along Fifth Avenue is pastel and breezy. Mercato has the upscale restaurants. The Everglades' western edge starts just south of town. Affluent, sunny, and quieter than the east-coast Florida cities.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,095/mo
$2,719/mo
$376/mo less than San Luis Obispo (14%)
Median home price
Median home price
$934k
$679k
$255k 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
$5,614/mo
Naples has $1,151/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
261 days
42 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
0 days
days below 20°F per year
San Luis Obispo has 14 more days above 95°F each year than Naples.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
68 / 100
58 / 100
10.0 pts behind San Luis Obispo
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
3 routes
34 routes
31 more direct routes than San Luis Obispo
Metro size
Metro size
282k metro
404k metro
the verdict
2
San Luis Obispo
categories won
6
Naples
categories won
Naples leads on money and wins overall.
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