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→Buffalo
Buffalo invented the wing (Anchor Bar, 1964, midnight, blue cheese, celery, not negotiable) and that should tell you most of what you need to know about the city's spirit. The Bills Mafia jumps through tables in subzero parking lots. Niagara Falls is 20 minutes away. The architecture (Sullivan, Wright, Olmsted parks) is genuinely world-class. The snow is part of the local mythology and the locals wear it proudly.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,352/mo
$1,374/mo
$1,978/mo less than Santa Maria (144%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$280k
$779k less than Santa Maria
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
5.9%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,206/mo
$6,472/mo
Buffalo has $2,266/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
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
42 days
days below 20°F per year
Buffalo drops below 20°F on 42 more days per year than Santa Maria.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
66 / 100
7.0 pts ahead of Santa Maria
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
2 routes
20 routes
18 more direct routes than Santa Maria
Metro size
Metro size
441k metro
1.2M metro
the verdict
2
Santa Maria
categories won
6
Buffalo
categories won
Buffalo wins on money and lifestyle. Santa Maria has the edge on weather.
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