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→Wilmington
Wilmington has been called 'Hollywood East' for the volume of film and TV produced here (Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, and dozens of features). The historic riverfront on the Cape Fear is genuinely charming, and Wrightsville Beach is 15 minutes away. The food scene punches above its weight, especially seafood. UNCW keeps it youthful. A coastal city with both beach and downtown charm.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,597/mo
$1,675/mo
$922/mo less than Santa Rosa (55%)
Median home price
Median home price
$817k
$448k
$369k less than Santa Rosa
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
4.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,961/mo
$6,283/mo
Wilmington has $1,322/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
235 days
19 fewer than Santa Rosa
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
28 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
1 days
days below 20°F per year
Santa Rosa has 27 more days above 95°F each year than Wilmington.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
69 / 100
54 / 100
15.0 pts behind Santa Rosa
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
4 routes
5 routes
Metro size
Metro size
482k metro
467k metro
Santa Rosa has 20.0x fewer events per month than Wilmington.
the verdict
2
Santa Rosa
categories won
5
Wilmington
categories won
Wilmington wins on money. Santa Rosa has the edge on lifestyle.
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