on $100k a year, leaving Melbourne

change
Harrisburg, PA cityscape

from melbourne

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

$194

lighter monthly cost than Melbourne

On paper, Harrisburg and Melbourne are twins. In practice they live very differently.
landable, recorded on the harrisburg entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,446/mo

24% cheaper than Melbourne(vs $1,895/mo)

02state income tax

3.07%

$256/mo more in state tax than Melbourne

vs 0% in Melbourne

03after rent

$6,632/mo

$194 more than Melbourne

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

04a house here

$309k

12% cheaper than Melbourne

vs $351k in Melbourne

05metro size

606k

vs 644k in Melbourne

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

152

pleasant days a year, in harrisburg.

Melbourne edges ahead with 254 pleasant days. Winter has bite, though: 33 days drop below 20° vs Melbourne's 0.

·outdoorscore

69/100

25% higher than Melbourne

vs 55/100 in Melbourne

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

·walk score®

93/100

11% higher than Melbourne

vs 84/100 in Melbourne

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

12

500% more than Melbourne

vs 2 nonstops in Melbourne

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as harrisburg:

compare harrisburg with: