on $100k a year, leaving Madison
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
lighter monthly cost than Madison
Cost barely budges between Durham and Madison. Pick this one for the texture of the days, not the math.
a quick ledger.
$1,684/mo
1% more expensive than Madison(vs $1,673/mo)
4.5%
$148/mo less in state tax than Madison
vs 6.27% in Madison
$6,274/mo
$136 more than Madison
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$415k
11% cheaper than Madison
vs $465k in Madison
609k
vs 694k in Madison
field notes, weather & such.
178
pleasant days a year, in durham.
Madison only logs 147 pleasant days.
A similar weekend lineup to Madison.
50/100
25% lower than Madison
vs 67/100 in Madison
Closest outdoor draw: William B. Umstead State Park, 10.9 mi.
80/100
9% lower than Madison
vs 88/100 in Madison
39
255% more than Madison
vs 11 nonstops in Madison
if durham appeals, also worth a look:
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