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→Provo
Provo is BYU and the Mormon culture's center of gravity, with a downtown that's quieter than most college towns (no Saturday football beer crowds here). The Wasatch Mountains rise right behind it, with Sundance ski resort 30 minutes up the canyon. Provo Canyon and Bridal Veil Falls are summer go-tos. The tech scene (Qualtrics, Domo) has reshaped the local economy. Beautiful in a calm, ordered way.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,352/mo
$1,743/mo
$1,609/mo less than Santa Maria (92%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$559k
$500k 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
$6,203/mo
Provo has $1,997/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
171 days
166 fewer than Santa Maria
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
12 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
44 days
days below 20°F per year
Provo has 12 more days above 95°F each year than Santa Maria. Provo drops below 20°F on 44 more days per year than Santa Maria.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
81 / 100
22.0 pts ahead of Santa Maria
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
2 routes
91 routes
89 more direct routes than Santa Maria
Metro size
Metro size
441k metro
733k metro
the verdict
3
Santa Maria
categories won
6
Provo
categories won
Provo wins on money and lifestyle. Santa Maria has the edge on weather.
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