$100k salary, packing up from Olympia

change
Harrisburg, PA cityscape

instead of olympia

Harrisburg

pa · metro 606k

a 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.

metro606k

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$290

less monthly outlay than Olympia

The gap is real. Harrisburg costs noticeably less than Olympia, every month.
landable, recorded on the harrisburg entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,446/mo

27% cheaper than Olympia(vs $1,991/mo)

02state income tax

3.07%

$256/mo more in state tax than Olympia

vs 0% in Olympia

03after rent

$6,632/mo

$290 more than Olympia

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$309k

42% cheaper than Olympia

vs $533k in Olympia

05metro size

606k

vs 299k in Olympia

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

152

pleasant days a year, in harrisburg.

Olympia edges ahead with 182 pleasant days. Winter has bite, though: 33 days drop below 20° vs Olympia's 2.

·outdoorscore

69/100

14% lower than Olympia

vs 80/100 in Olympia

Closest outdoor draw: Gifford Pinchot State Park, 12.7 mi.

·walk score®

93/100

6% higher than Olympia

vs 88/100 in Olympia

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

12

87% fewer than Olympia

vs 90 nonstops in Olympia

04 · see also

if harrisburg appeals, also worth a look:

compare harrisburg with: