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→Green Bay
Green Bay is the Packers, full stop: the smallest market in the NFL, and the only community-owned team in major American pro sports. Lambeau Field tours run year-round. The city itself is small, friendly, and built on the bay of Green Bay (yes, the bay is also named Green Bay). Tailgating is functionally a state holiday. Hot cocoa, brats on the grill, and stadium energy carry the winters.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,352/mo
$1,122/mo
$2,230/mo less than Santa Maria (199%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$340k
$719k less than Santa Maria
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
6.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,206/mo
$6,689/mo
Green Bay has $2,483/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
146 days
191 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
75 days
days below 20°F per year
Green Bay drops below 20°F on 75 more days per year than Santa Maria.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
73 / 100
14.0 pts ahead of Santa Maria
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
2 routes
4 routes
Metro size
Metro size
441k metro
332k metro
the verdict
2
Santa Maria
categories won
5
Green Bay
categories won
Green Bay wins on money and lifestyle. Santa Maria has the edge on weather.
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