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→Los Angeles
Los Angeles is 88 cities pretending to be one, connected by freeways and a shared love of really good tacos. Every neighborhood is its own scene: surfers in Venice, the Korean grandmas of K-town, mountains rising behind Pasadena, Persian rugs in Westwood. The light at golden hour is so good it makes Instagram filters jealous. Roll the windows down at golden hour, put on a playlist, and let the city stretch out.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,352/mo
$2,899/mo
$453/mo less than Santa Maria (16%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$1.0M
$30k less than Santa Maria
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
9.3%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,206/mo
$4,659/mo
Los Angeles has $453/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
283 days
54 fewer than Santa Maria
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
19 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
0 days
days below 20°F per year
Los Angeles has 19 more days above 95°F each year than Santa Maria.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
67 / 100
8.0 pts ahead of Santa Maria
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
2 routes
150 routes
148 more direct routes than Santa Maria
Metro size
Metro size
441k metro
12.8M metro
the verdict
2
Santa Maria
categories won
5
Los Angeles
categories won
Los Angeles wins on money and lifestyle. Santa Maria has the edge on weather.
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