on $100k a year, leaving Boise

change
Hickory, NC cityscape

instead of boise

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

$468

lighter monthly cost than Boise

Hickory gives you room Boise 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

20% cheaper than Boise(vs $1,794/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$108/mo less in state tax than Boise

vs 5.8% in Boise

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$468 more than Boise

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

04a house here

$268k

45% cheaper than Boise

vs $490k in Boise

05metro size

370k

vs 827k in Boise

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Boise barely cracks 166 pleasant ones.

51% fewer events than Boise. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

22% lower than Boise

vs 82/100 in Boise

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

·walk score®

70/100

27% lower than Boise

vs 96/100 in Boise

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Boise

vs 16 nonstops in Boise

04 · see also

neighbors of hickory on the map of tradeoffs:

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