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→Columbia
Columbia is the South Carolina capital, USC Gamecock country, and home to one of the largest urban rivers (the Congaree) flowing right past downtown. The Saluda River outside town is a tubing destination locals swear by, and Congaree National Park's old-growth cypress is a 30-minute drive. The state museum is a sleeper good time. Slower-paced than Charleston, less touristy.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,352/mo
$1,551/mo
$1,801/mo less than Santa Maria (116%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$255k
$804k less than Santa Maria
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
6.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,206/mo
$6,241/mo
Columbia has $2,035/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
189 days
148 fewer than Santa Maria
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
27 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
2 days
days below 20°F per year
Columbia has 27 more days above 95°F each year than Santa Maria.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
55 / 100
4.0 pts behind Santa Maria
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
2 routes
10 routes
8 more direct routes than Santa Maria
Metro size
Metro size
441k metro
857k metro
the verdict
3
Santa Maria
categories won
5
Columbia
categories won
Columbia wins on money. Santa Maria has the edge on weather.
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