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→York
York calls itself the White Rose City, claims to be America's first capital (Continental Congress met here briefly in 1777), and is the home of the Harley-Davidson assembly plant (factory tours available). The market houses in town go back over 100 years. The downtown is brick and walkable, the surrounding farm country is gorgeous, and the Susquehanna River is a quick drive east. Quietly historic.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,352/mo
$1,361/mo
$1,991/mo less than Santa Maria (146%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$310k
$749k less than Santa Maria
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
3.1%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,206/mo
$6,717/mo
York has $2,511/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
159 days
178 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
27 days
days below 20°F per year
York drops below 20°F on 27 more days per year than Santa Maria.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
64 / 100
5.0 pts ahead of Santa Maria
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
2 routes
12 routes
10 more direct routes than Santa Maria
Metro size
Metro size
441k metro
465k metro
the verdict
2
Santa Maria
categories won
6
York
categories won
York wins on money and lifestyle. Santa Maria has the edge on weather.
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