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→Shreveport
Shreveport sits on the Red River in the Ark-La-Tex corner, with riverboat casinos lining the waterfront and a food scene that runs Cajun, Creole, and serious smoked meats. The Mardi Gras parades here are smaller than New Orleans but just as enthusiastic. Texas is 20 minutes west, which gives the city a regional crossroads feel. Quieter and cheaper than the bigger Louisiana metros.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,095/mo
$1,308/mo
$1,787/mo less than San Luis Obispo (137%)
Median home price
Median home price
$934k
$176k
$758k less than San Luis Obispo
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
3.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,463/mo
$6,775/mo
Shreveport has $2,312/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
159 days
144 fewer than San Luis Obispo
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
14 days
50 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
2 days
days below 20°F per year
Shreveport has 36 more days above 95°F each 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
5 routes
Metro size
Metro size
282k metro
383k metro
San Luis Obispo has 10.0x more events per month than Shreveport.
the verdict
3
San Luis Obispo
categories won
4
Shreveport
categories won
Shreveport wins on money. San Luis Obispo has the edge on weather and lifestyle.
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