01 · the cities
Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa is the gateway to Sonoma wine country, less polished than Napa but more lived-in. Charles Schulz lived here and the Snoopy museum is a delight. The Russian River redwoods are 30 minutes west. The city itself has rebuilt impressively after the 2017 fires, with a downtown that mixes wineries, breweries, and farm-to-table restaurants. Cooler than San Francisco in summer.
full dispatch→Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs sits at the foot of Pikes Peak (which inspired America the Beautiful), with the Garden of the Gods' red rock formations rising on the city's western edge. The Air Force Academy chapel is one of the most striking pieces of modernist religious architecture in the country. It's drier and sunnier than people expect, with strong evangelical and military communities shaping the city's character. Outdoorsy in a quiet way.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,597/mo
$1,733/mo
$864/mo less than Santa Rosa (50%)
Median home price
Median home price
$817k
$463k
$355k less than Santa Rosa
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
4.4%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,961/mo
$6,234/mo
Colorado Springs has $1,273/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
254 days
184 days
70 fewer than Santa Rosa
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
28 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
75 days
days below 20°F per year
Santa Rosa has 28 more days above 95°F each year than Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs drops below 20°F on 75 more days per year than Santa Rosa.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
69 / 100
71 / 100
2.0 pts ahead of Santa Rosa
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
4 routes
11 routes
7 more direct routes than Santa Rosa
Metro size
Metro size
482k metro
769k metro
Santa Rosa has 43.0x fewer events per month than Colorado Springs.
the verdict
2
Santa Rosa
categories won
7
Colorado Springs
categories won
Colorado Springs wins on money and lifestyle. Santa Rosa has the edge on weather.
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