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→Wilmington
Wilmington has been called 'Hollywood East' for the volume of film and TV produced here (Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, and dozens of features). The historic riverfront on the Cape Fear is genuinely charming, and Wrightsville Beach is 15 minutes away. The food scene punches above its weight, especially seafood. UNCW keeps it youthful. A coastal city with both beach and downtown charm.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,095/mo
$1,675/mo
$1,420/mo less than San Luis Obispo (85%)
Median home price
Median home price
$934k
$448k
$486k less than San Luis Obispo
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
4.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,463/mo
$6,283/mo
Wilmington has $1,820/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
235 days
68 fewer than San Luis Obispo
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
14 days
1 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 13 more days above 95°F each year than Wilmington.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
68 / 100
54 / 100
14.0 pts behind San Luis Obispo
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
3 routes
5 routes
Metro size
Metro size
282k metro
467k metro
San Luis Obispo has 2.0x fewer events per month than Wilmington.
the verdict
2
San Luis Obispo
categories won
5
Wilmington
categories won
Wilmington wins on money. San Luis Obispo has the edge on lifestyle.
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