with $100k coming in, swapping out of Charleston

change
Hickory, NC cityscape

instead of charleston

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

$719

cheaper each month than Charleston

You'd feel the difference in Hickory. Not life-changing money, but real breathing room next to Charleston.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

28% cheaper than Charleston(vs $1,987/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$167/mo less in state tax than Charleston

vs 6.5% in Charleston

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$719 more than Charleston

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

04a house here

$268k

38% cheaper than Charleston

vs $432k in Charleston

05metro size

370k

vs 849k in Charleston

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Charleston gets 212 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine.

Lighter on events: Charleston packs 2.2× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

4% lower than Charleston

vs 67/100 in Charleston

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

·walk score®

70/100

24% lower than Charleston

vs 92/100 in Charleston

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Charleston

vs 20 nonstops in Charleston

04 · see also

same energy as hickory, different zip code:

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