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→Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne sits where three rivers meet (the St. Joseph, the St. Marys, and the Maumee), and the riverfront has been transforming into a real public space. The Children's Zoo is consistently ranked among the country's best. It's the second-largest city in Indiana, with the friendly small-town feel still intact. Cheap, easy, and quietly improving.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,352/mo
$1,187/mo
$2,165/mo less than Santa Maria (182%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$254k
$805k less than Santa Maria
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
3.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,206/mo
$6,896/mo
Fort Wayne has $2,690/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
161 days
176 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
38 days
days below 20°F per year
Fort Wayne drops below 20°F on 38 more days per year than Santa Maria.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
46 / 100
13.0 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
458k metro
the verdict
3
Santa Maria
categories won
5
Fort Wayne
categories won
Fort Wayne wins on money. Santa Maria has the edge on weather.
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