$100k salary, packing up from Augusta

change
Hickory, NC cityscape

instead of augusta

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

$91

under Augusta, every month

On paper, Hickory and Augusta are twins. In practice they live very differently.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

1% cheaper than Augusta(vs $1,443/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$82/mo less in state tax than Augusta

vs 5.49% in Augusta

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$91 more than Augusta

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

04a house here

$268k

9% more expensive than Augusta

vs $247k in Augusta

05metro size

370k

vs 628k in Augusta

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Augusta actually gets more: 191 pleasant days a year.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 6.3× more on the calendar than Augusta.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

39% higher than Augusta

vs 46/100 in Augusta

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

·walk score®

70/100

5% lower than Augusta

vs 74/100 in Augusta

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Augusta

vs 3 nonstops in Augusta

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