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→Milwaukee
Milwaukee is beer (the Pabst and Miller legacy still hangs in the air), bratwurst (with the proper amount of mustard, please), and a Lake Michigan shoreline that goes on forever. Frozen custard is a regional specialty and a serious one. The Calatrava-designed art museum has wings that literally open and close on Lake Michigan. Friendly here means you'll have a new friend by the second beer.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,352/mo
$1,504/mo
$1,848/mo less than Santa Maria (123%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$394k
$664k 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
$6,307/mo
Milwaukee has $2,101/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
149 days
188 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
62 days
days below 20°F per year
Milwaukee drops below 20°F on 62 more days per year than Santa Maria.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
61 / 100
2.0 pts ahead of Santa Maria
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
2 routes
30 routes
28 more direct routes than Santa Maria
Metro size
Metro size
441k metro
1.6M metro
the verdict
2
Santa Maria
categories won
6
Milwaukee
categories won
Milwaukee wins on money and lifestyle. Santa Maria has the edge on weather.
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