$100k a year, no longer in Columbia
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
less monthly outlay than Columbia
On paper, Durham and Columbia are twins. In practice they live very differently.
a quick ledger.
$1,684/mo
9% more expensive than Columbia(vs $1,551/mo)
4.5%
$167/mo less in state tax than Columbia
vs 6.5% in Columbia
$6,274/mo
$33 more than Columbia
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$415k
63% more expensive than Columbia
vs $255k in Columbia
609k
vs 857k in Columbia
field notes, weather & such.
178
pleasant days a year, in durham.
Columbia has the edge here, logging 189 pleasant days a year.
A real upgrade on things to do: 1.8× Columbia's pace.
50/100
9% lower than Columbia
vs 55/100 in Columbia
Closest outdoor draw: William B. Umstead State Park, 10.9 mi.
80/100
6% lower than Columbia
vs 85/100 in Columbia
39
290% more than Columbia
vs 10 nonstops in Columbia
if durham appeals, also worth a look:
compare durham with:
