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→Lincoln
Lincoln is the Nebraska state capital, home to the University of Nebraska, and on home-game Saturdays Memorial Stadium fills with over 85,000 fans (briefly making it the third-largest city in Nebraska). The state capitol is a striking 400-foot Art Deco tower visible from miles away. The Haymarket district downtown has the food and bar scene. Friendly, affordable, and prettier than its prairie reputation suggests.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,352/mo
$1,311/mo
$2,041/mo less than Santa Maria (156%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$302k
$757k less than Santa Maria
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
5.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,206/mo
$6,536/mo
Lincoln has $2,330/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
13 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
48 days
days below 20°F per year
Lincoln has 13 more days above 95°F each year than Santa Maria. Lincoln drops below 20°F on 48 more days per year than Santa Maria.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
53 / 100
6.0 pts behind Santa Maria
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
2 routes
3 routes
Metro size
Metro size
441k metro
344k metro
the verdict
4
Santa Maria
categories won
4
Lincoln
categories won
Santa Maria wins on weather and lifestyle, Lincoln wins on money. Dead even.
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