Atascadero vs San Luis Obispo
Atascadero, California versus San Luis Obispo, California: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
San Luis Obispo edges out Atascadero on overall objective livability (49 vs 45 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Atascadero | San Luis Obispo |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $89k | $65k |
| Cost of Living | $71k | $71k |
| Home Value | $630k | $842k |
| Monthly Rent | $2k | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $3k | $3k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.73% | 0.61% |
| Income Tax | 13.30% | 13.30% |
| Sales Tax | 8.85% | 8.85% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 21.38% | 24.17% |
| Unemployment | 4.1% | 6.9% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 51°F | 52°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 69°F | 67°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 31.6 in | 22.4 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 259 days | 259 days |
| Summer Humidity | 55°F | 55°F |
| Comfortable Days | 120 days | 195 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 70.8 | 67.8 |
| Air Quality | 38 AQI | 28 AQI |
| School Quality | 48.9 | 83.2 |
| Violent Crime | 1149/100k | 1411/100k |
| Property Crime | 1432/100k | 3636/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 29,758 | 47,529 |
| Median Age | 40.9 | 25.2 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.33 | 0.36 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.00 | 1.03 |
| Political Leaning | D+13 | D+13 |
| White (%) | 70.1% | 70.4% |
| Black (%) | 0.7% | 1.3% |
| Hispanic (%) | 22.2% | 17.9% |
| Asian (%) | 1.6% | 5.1% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 23 min | 15 min |
| Walkability | 10.9/20 | 14.4/20 |
| Airport Distance | 147 mi | 158 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 91.3% | 91.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 23.19 | 58.70 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Atascadero or San Luis Obispo more affordable?
- San Luis Obispo has the lower cost of living: its index is $71k, compared with Atascadero's $71k and San Luis Obispo's $71k. Median rent is $2k in Atascadero versus $2k in San Luis Obispo.
- Is Atascadero or San Luis Obispo safer?
- Atascadero has the lower violent crime rate. Atascadero reports 1149/100k and San Luis Obispo reports 1411/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Atascadero or San Luis Obispo?
- The median home value is $630k in Atascadero and $842k in San Luis Obispo, so homes are more affordable in Atascadero.