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→Syracuse
Syracuse averages around 120 inches of snow per year, which is the most of any major U.S. city, and locals wear it like a badge. The Carrier Dome (now JMA Wireless Dome) is the largest on-campus arena in the country. The food scene leans Italian (Salt City was an Italian immigrant hub) and excellent. The Finger Lakes are right next door. Bring boots.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,352/mo
$1,619/mo
$1,733/mo less than Santa Maria (107%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$254k
$805k less than Santa Maria
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
5.9%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,206/mo
$6,227/mo
Syracuse has $2,021/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
142 days
195 fewer than Santa Maria
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
53 days
days below 20°F per year
Syracuse drops below 20°F on 53 more days per year than Santa Maria.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
59 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
2 routes
16 routes
14 more direct routes than Santa Maria
Metro size
Metro size
441k metro
653k metro
the verdict
2
Santa Maria
categories won
5
Syracuse
categories won
Syracuse wins on money and lifestyle. Santa Maria has the edge on weather.
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