01 · the cities
Santa Maria
Santa Maria has its own style of barbecue (tri-tip cooked over red oak with pinquito beans and salsa), which is a legitimate regional tradition that locals will fight you about. The surrounding Santa Maria Valley is becoming serious wine country (especially Pinot Noir and Chardonnay). It's quieter and more affordable than its central coast neighbors. The Pacific is right there.
full dispatch→Akron
Akron was the Rubber City (Goodyear, Firestone, BFGoodrich all built here), and the legacy still shapes its industrial bones. LeBron James is from Akron and never forgets it. The Goodyear blimp is based in town. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is just north, with waterfalls and rail-trails. Cheaper than Cleveland, with its own quiet charm.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,352/mo
$1,259/mo
$2,093/mo less than Santa Maria (166%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$236k
$822k less than Santa Maria
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
4.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,206/mo
$6,742/mo
Akron has $2,536/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
337 days
152 days
185 fewer than Santa Maria
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
40 days
days below 20°F per year
Akron drops below 20°F on 40 more days per year than Santa Maria.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
65 / 100
6.0 pts ahead of Santa Maria
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
2 routes
11 routes
9 more direct routes than Santa Maria
Metro size
Metro size
441k metro
698k metro
the verdict
2
Santa Maria
categories won
6
Akron
categories won
Akron wins on money and lifestyle. Santa Maria has the edge on weather.
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