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→Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is a three-mile boardwalk, a giant Neptune statue keeping watch, and Atlantic surf that's warm in August and gentle in September. The military presence (Navy and Air Force) gives the city a structured, welcoming feel. False Cape and Back Bay nature areas are wild marshland just south of the high-rises. October on the boardwalk might be the prettiest month on the East Coast.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,352/mo
$1,819/mo
$1,533/mo less than Santa Maria (84%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$375k
$684k less than Santa Maria
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
5.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,206/mo
$6,035/mo
Virginia Beach has $1,829/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
211 days
126 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
2 days
days below 20°F per year
Santa Maria edges ahead on pleasant days, but both cities have comparable comfort overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
57 / 100
2.0 pts behind Santa Maria
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
2 routes
17 routes
15 more direct routes than Santa Maria
Metro size
Metro size
441k metro
1.8M metro
the verdict
2
Santa Maria
categories won
5
Virginia Beach
categories won
Virginia Beach wins on money. Santa Maria has the edge on weather.
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