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→Tallahassee
Tallahassee feels more like south Georgia than Florida: oak canopies, rolling hills, and red clay. It's the state capital, home to Florida State (Seminole football is a religion) and FAMU, and surrounded by some of the best springs in the country (Wakulla and Wakulla Springs State Park are 20 minutes south). The food scene leans southern with serious Cuban influence. Cooler in summer than the rest of the state.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,352/mo
$1,527/mo
$1,825/mo less than Santa Maria (120%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$289k
$770k less than Santa Maria
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,206/mo
$6,806/mo
Tallahassee has $2,600/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
186 days
151 fewer than Santa Maria
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
35 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
0 days
days below 20°F per year
Tallahassee has 35 more days above 95°F each year than Santa Maria.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
58 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
2 routes
7 routes
5 more direct routes than Santa Maria
Metro size
Metro size
441k metro
393k metro
the verdict
2
Santa Maria
categories won
5
Tallahassee
categories won
Tallahassee wins on money and lifestyle. Santa Maria has the edge on weather.
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