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→Ogden
Ogden is the old railroad town turned ski-bum gateway, with three world-class resorts (Snowbasin, Powder Mountain, Nordic Valley) within 30 minutes. Historic 25th Street has the old saloons and brick storefronts intact, now full of breweries and restaurants. Union Station is a working museum. The Wasatch Mountains loom right behind town. It's the chiller, cheaper neighbor of Park City.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,352/mo
$1,641/mo
$1,711/mo less than Santa Maria (104%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$524k
$535k less than Santa Maria
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
4.7%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,206/mo
$6,305/mo
Ogden has $2,099/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
174 days
163 fewer than Santa Maria
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
4 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
54 days
days below 20°F per year
Ogden drops below 20°F on 54 more days per year than Santa Maria.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
80 / 100
21.0 pts ahead of Santa Maria
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
2 routes
90 routes
88 more direct routes than Santa Maria
Metro size
Metro size
441k metro
658k metro
the verdict
2
Santa Maria
categories won
6
Ogden
categories won
Ogden wins on money and lifestyle. Santa Maria has the edge on weather.
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