with $100k coming in, swapping out of Buffalo

change
Hickory, NC cityscape

next stop after buffalo

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

$52

below Buffalo's monthly cost

Cost barely budges between Hickory and Buffalo. Pick this one for the texture of the days, not the math.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

4% more expensive than Buffalo(vs $1,374/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$113/mo less in state tax than Buffalo

vs 5.85% in Buffalo

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$52 more than Buffalo

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

04a house here

$268k

4% cheaper than Buffalo

vs $280k in Buffalo

05metro size

370k

vs 1.2M in Buffalo

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Buffalo keeps to 152 pleasant days a year.

Buffalo hosts 3.6× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

3% lower than Buffalo

vs 66/100 in Buffalo

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

·walk score®

70/100

23% lower than Buffalo

vs 91/100 in Buffalo

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Buffalo

vs 20 nonstops in Buffalo

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