$100k a year, no longer in Bridgeport

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Hickory, NC cityscape

from bridgeport

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

$1,416

less monthly outlay than Bridgeport

Hickory runs on a fraction of Bridgeport's budget. Same paycheck, real lifestyle upgrade.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

48% cheaper than Bridgeport(vs $2,767/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$83/mo less in state tax than Bridgeport

vs 5.5% in Bridgeport

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$1,416 more than Bridgeport

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

04a house here

$268k

65% cheaper than Bridgeport

vs $768k in Bridgeport

05metro size

370k

vs 952k in Bridgeport

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Bridgeport barely cracks 172 pleasant ones.

171% more happening than in Bridgeport.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

0% lower than Bridgeport

vs 64/100 in Bridgeport

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

·walk score®

70/100

24% lower than Bridgeport

vs 92/100 in Bridgeport

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Bridgeport

vs 1 nonstops in Bridgeport

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