with $100k coming in, swapping out of Washington
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 Washington
Durham is the kind of cheap that changes the math. Same salary, a different life on the other side.
a quick ledger.
$1,684/mo
28% cheaper than Washington(vs $2,352/mo)
4.5%
$333/mo less in state tax than Washington
vs 8.5% in Washington
$6,274/mo
$1,001 more than Washington
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$415k
34% cheaper than Washington
vs $626k in Washington
609k
vs 6.3M in Washington
field notes, weather & such.
178
pleasant days a year, in durham.
Washington only logs 177 pleasant days.
But the calendar thins out: Washington stays 4.6× busier.
50/100
43% lower than Washington
vs 87/100 in Washington
Closest outdoor draw: William B. Umstead State Park, 10.9 mi.
80/100
18% lower than Washington
vs 98/100 in Washington
39
76% fewer than Washington
vs 160 nonstops in Washington
if durham appeals, also worth a look:
compare durham with:
