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→Salem
Salem is the Oregon state capital, smaller and quieter than Portland (less than an hour north), with the Willamette River running through downtown and the surrounding Willamette Valley producing some of the best Pinot Noir in the world. The state capitol is topped by a gold-leaf pioneer statue. Cherry blossoms line the riverfront every spring. Affordable and underrated.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,095/mo
$1,642/mo
$1,453/mo less than San Luis Obispo (88%)
Median home price
Median home price
$934k
$452k
$482k less than San Luis Obispo
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
8.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,463/mo
$5,962/mo
Salem has $1,499/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
201 days
102 fewer than San Luis Obispo
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
14 days
2 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
1 days
days below 20°F per year
San Luis Obispo has 12 more days above 95°F each year than Salem.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
68 / 100
69 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
3 routes
0 routes
3 fewer direct routes than San Luis Obispo
Metro size
Metro size
282k metro
437k metro
San Luis Obispo has 10.0x more events per month than Salem.
the verdict
2
San Luis Obispo
categories won
5
Salem
categories won
Salem wins on money. San Luis Obispo has the edge on lifestyle.
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