on $100k a year, leaving Austin
changea dispatch from
harrisburg
PA
40.26°N
76.88°W
Harrisburg is the Pennsylvania state capital sitting on the Susquehanna River, with a gorgeous Beaux-Arts capitol building (Theodore Roosevelt called it the handsomest building he ever saw). City Island in the middle of the river is a small park with minor league baseball. Hershey is 15 minutes east (yes, that Hershey). Slower-paced than its metro neighbors.
in our guides
of 10
Best affordable cities to retire
read the guideof 10
Best cities to leave New York for
read the guideof 10
Best cities on the East Coast
read the guideof 10
Best cities to leave Boston for
read the guideof 10
Best cities to leave DC for
read the guideof 10
Best cities for creatives and artists
read the guideof 10
Affordable alternatives to Boise
read the guidethe verdict
more each month than Austin ran you
A small premium for Harrisburg. Worth it only if the rest of the city earns it back.
a quick ledger.
$1,446/mo
9% cheaper than Austin(vs $1,583/mo)
3.07%
$256/mo more in state tax than Austin
vs 0% in Austin
$6,632/mo
$118 less than Austin
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$309k
29% cheaper than Austin
vs $433k in Austin
606k
vs 2.5M in Austin
field notes, weather & such.
152
pleasant days a year, in harrisburg.
Austin actually gets more: 170 pleasant days a year. Cold snaps are part of the year: 33 days below 20° here, 1 in Austin.
But the calendar thins out: Austin stays 3.6× busier.
69/100
23% higher than Austin
vs 56/100 in Austin
Closest outdoor draw: Gifford Pinchot State Park, 12.7 mi.
93/100
6% lower than Austin
vs 99/100 in Austin
12
71% fewer than Austin
vs 42 nonstops in Austin
cities that play in harrisburg's register:
