It’s synonymous with the debate between vanilla and chocolate, cats and dogs and olives and pickles. It has engulfed everyone across every state, but nowhere is the battle more fiercely fought than in its home state – North California vs. South California. The differences between the two have inspired a fierce pride akin to nationalism, but, after taking into account both sides of the debate, it’s clear exactly which half of California is better. (Although, to be honest, if you’re living in California, you’re winning either way)

1. Nature!!

With everything from intense rolling hills to the massive sequoia forest in Muir Woods to the extensive coastline, Northern California allows for more nature and more green foliage. Get your nature on and get outside

2. More Outdoor-sy

Northern Californians bike everywhere. Honestly. Hwy 1 provides the perfect hub for all kinds of scenic rides into forestland or along the coast, and the biggest distraction to drivers is avoiding the packs of riders. Cooler year-round temperatures along the coast and the bay lead diners to sit outside, and people walk around in droves. Parks are integrated everywhere, especially in the larger cities where greenspace may be harder to come by. This isn't super surprising, either, given that Northern California is overall more health-conscious.

3. Better Weather

While only the Bay and coastal areas stay in the sixties year-round, Northern California is much cooler than Southern California. The average rainfall is higher (hence the forests) and the humidity is noticeably lower. There's plenty of desert states nearby.... isn't California supposed to be "different"?

4. Amazing Food

Northern California holds "wine country", a broad term that encompasses the Napa Valley as well as Sonoma and several other famous vineyards. In San Francisco, sourdough bread, Popsicles, Caesar Salad and fortune cookies were invented, and the fresh seafood is amazing. "California roll" sushi got its name from its intense popularity. The farm-to-plate movement really kicked off here, inspiring a widespread movement pushing for more healthy, fresh food. And most importantly? Ghirardelli chocolate! All throughout the region, travelers flock to eat in Northern California.

5. Culture

With such a strong Asian influence mixing with the American culture, it is no surprise that Northern California has such an interesting blend of culture. With a plethora of museums, street art displays and a more open-minded perspective on life that culminate in rich areas like Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco, Northern California has a vibrant personality of its own that doesn't involve fake tans and plastic surgery.

6. Education

Nothing spells the future of the world quite as easily as education; Northern California boasts some of the best schools in the nation. Prestigious universities such as Stanford, University of California-Berkeley and University of California-Davis draw students from all across the country. And this extends to public schools - the Palo Alto Unified School District is the highest-performing in the state and the 11th best in the nation with regards to overall educational quality.

7. Business/Industry

The Silicon Valley district is home to many of the world's biggest companies, 22 of which are Fortune 500 businesses. A short list of the big names? Apple Inc., Hewlett-Packard (HP), Electronic Arts (EA), Google, Adobe, Facebook, Netflix, eBay, Intel, Cisco, Pixar, Panasonic, and many more.

8. Traveling is Easier

With much less traffic than Southern California, you'll find it much easier to get from point A to B. Most of the bigger, more urbanized areas also include rapid transit, such as BART or CalTrain, and, of course, Uber is always the move. Less traffic = doing more!

9. Baseball

It's a minor point but still very important. Tallying the number of World Series championships in the entire history of the programs (admittedly, not all were won while the team was based in California), the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics have hung 17 banners combined; the Anaheim Angels and the San Diego Padres have hung 7. Less time at In-and-Out Burger, more time practicing?

10. Just "Hella" Better

Yes, Northern California coined the slang phrase that took off like a rocket to the moon, even being mentioned by Taylor Swift in her song, "Shake It Off". What says individuality like your own language, and what says leader like everyone picking up that language? Talk down to us all you want, SoCal; we're the ones with the hella great word.