on $100k a year, leaving Allentown

change
Hickory, NC cityscape

if you left allentown

Hickory

nc · metro 370k

photo: Mark Stebnicki / pexels

a dispatch from

hickory

NC

35.73°N

81.34°W

Hickory is North Carolina's furniture capital, with the Hickory Furniture Mart and the surrounding factories shaping the local economy. The downtown has come back nicely with breweries and a walkable feel. The Blue Ridge foothills start just outside town. Lake Hickory is right there for boating. Cheaper than the bigger NC cities, with mountain access an hour away.

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$255

lighter monthly cost than Allentown

Hickory gives you room Allentown doesn't. Same gross salary, lower monthly cost of living.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

21% cheaper than Allentown(vs $1,809/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$119/mo more in state tax than Allentown

vs 3.07% in Allentown

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$255 more than Allentown

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

04a house here

$268k

25% cheaper than Allentown

vs $359k in Allentown

05metro size

370k

vs 874k in Allentown

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Allentown barely cracks 157 pleasant ones.

A similar weekend lineup to Allentown.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

12% lower than Allentown

vs 73/100 in Allentown

Closest outdoor draw: South Mountains State Park, 21.5 mi.

·walk score®

70/100

19% lower than Allentown

vs 86/100 in Allentown

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Allentown

vs 9 nonstops in Allentown

04 · see also

cities that play in hickory's register:

see also

spartanburg

more flight options

turn the page

see also

roanoke

better park access

turn the page

see also

lancaster

$37/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare hickory with:

SpartanburgRoanokeLancaster