on $100k a year, leaving Cincinnati

change
Hickory, NC cityscape

from cincinnati

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.

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$72

lighter monthly cost than Cincinnati

Hickory and Cincinnati land close on cost. The reasons to move are about how you'd live, not what you'd save.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

7% cheaper than Cincinnati(vs $1,549/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$43/mo more in state tax than Cincinnati

vs 3.99% in Cincinnati

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$72 more than Cincinnati

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

04a house here

$268k

15% cheaper than Cincinnati

vs $316k in Cincinnati

05metro size

370k

vs 2.3M in Cincinnati

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Cincinnati only logs 162 pleasant days.

Cincinnati hosts 4.6× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

11% lower than Cincinnati

vs 72/100 in Cincinnati

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

·walk score®

70/100

27% lower than Cincinnati

vs 96/100 in Cincinnati

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Cincinnati

vs 47 nonstops in Cincinnati

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