same $100k income, fresh start from Ann Arbor
changea dispatch from
durham
NC
35.99°N
78.90°W
Durham is Duke University, old tobacco warehouses turned into incredible restaurants and breweries (the American Tobacco Campus is a model for adaptive reuse), and a food scene that punches way above its size (multiple James Beard winners). Bull City pride runs deep. The Eno River and Duke Gardens are right in town. It's more diverse, weirder, and more interesting than outsiders expect.
the verdict
under Ann Arbor, every month
Not a fortune, but real money. Durham runs cheaper than Ann Arbor month over month.
a quick ledger.
$1,684/mo
19% cheaper than Ann Arbor(vs $2,082/mo)
4.5%
$21/mo more in state tax than Ann Arbor
vs 4.25% in Ann Arbor
$6,274/mo
$377 more than Ann Arbor
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$415k
3% cheaper than Ann Arbor
vs $429k in Ann Arbor
609k
vs 366k in Ann Arbor
field notes, weather & such.
178
pleasant days a year, in durham.
Ann Arbor keeps to 154 pleasant days a year.
Nights and weekends fill up faster. 2.5× more on the calendar than Ann Arbor.
50/100
11% lower than Ann Arbor
vs 56/100 in Ann Arbor
Closest outdoor draw: William B. Umstead State Park, 10.9 mi.
80/100
18% lower than Ann Arbor
vs 97/100 in Ann Arbor
39
71% fewer than Ann Arbor
vs 135 nonstops in Ann Arbor
if durham appeals, also worth a look:
compare durham with:
