on $100k a year, leaving Asheville

change
Hickory, NC cityscape

instead of asheville

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.

metro370k

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$304

lighter monthly cost than Asheville

Hickory gives you room Asheville 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

17% cheaper than Asheville(vs $1,738/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

vs 4.5% in Asheville

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$304 more than Asheville

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

04a house here

$268k

38% cheaper than Asheville

vs $430k in Asheville

05metro size

370k

vs 417k in Asheville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Asheville has the edge here, logging 201 pleasant days a year.

46% fewer events than Asheville. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

3% lower than Asheville

vs 66/100 in Asheville

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

·walk score®

70/100

11% higher than Asheville

vs 63/100 in Asheville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Asheville

vs 8 nonstops in Asheville

04 · see also

if hickory appeals, also worth a look:

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