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→Kennewick
Kennewick is part of the Tri-Cities (with Pasco and Richland), sitting at the confluence of the Columbia, Snake, and Yakima rivers in eastern Washington. The Columbia Valley wine region (Walla Walla is 45 minutes east) is one of the most acclaimed in the country. It's sunny, dry, and much cheaper than the Seattle side. The Hanford Reach is a hauntingly beautiful stretch of the Columbia. Underrated.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,352/mo
$1,686/mo
$1,666/mo less than Santa Maria (99%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$441k
$618k less than Santa Maria
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,206/mo
$6,647/mo
Kennewick has $2,441/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
199 days
138 fewer than Santa Maria
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
26 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
8 days
days below 20°F per year
Kennewick has 26 more days above 95°F each year than Santa Maria. Kennewick drops below 20°F on 8 more days per year than Santa Maria.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
74 / 100
15.0 pts ahead of Santa Maria
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
2 routes
8 routes
6 more direct routes than Santa Maria
Metro size
Metro size
441k metro
314k metro
the verdict
3
Santa Maria
categories won
6
Kennewick
categories won
Kennewick wins on money and lifestyle. Santa Maria has the edge on weather.
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