same $100k income, fresh start from Dayton

change
Hickory, NC cityscape

from dayton

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

$156

more expensive each month than Dayton

Hickory edges out a little pricier. Close enough that the decision rides on the days, not the dollars.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

9% more expensive than Dayton(vs $1,321/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$43/mo more in state tax than Dayton

vs 3.99% in Dayton

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$156 less than Dayton

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

04a house here

$268k

93% more expensive than Dayton

vs $139k in Dayton

05metro size

370k

vs 808k in Dayton

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Dayton only manages 171 of those.

A real upgrade on things to do: 1.4× Dayton's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

3% higher than Dayton

vs 62/100 in Dayton

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

·walk score®

70/100

21% lower than Dayton

vs 89/100 in Dayton

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Dayton

vs 16 nonstops in Dayton

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