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→Harrisburg
Harrisburg is the Pennsylvania state capital sitting on the Susquehanna River, with a gorgeous Beaux-Arts capitol building (Theodore Roosevelt called it the handsomest building he ever saw). City Island in the middle of the river is a small park with minor league baseball. Hershey is 15 minutes east (yes, that Hershey). Slower-paced than its metro neighbors.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,352/mo
$1,446/mo
$1,906/mo less than Santa Maria (132%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$309k
$750k less than Santa Maria
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
3.1%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,206/mo
$6,632/mo
Harrisburg has $2,426/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
3 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
33 days
days below 20°F per year
Harrisburg drops below 20°F on 33 more days per year than Santa Maria.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
69 / 100
10.0 pts ahead of Santa Maria
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
2 routes
12 routes
10 more direct routes than Santa Maria
Metro size
Metro size
441k metro
606k metro
the verdict
2
Santa Maria
categories won
6
Harrisburg
categories won
Harrisburg wins on money and lifestyle. Santa Maria has the edge on weather.
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