on $100k a year, leaving Fayetteville

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Hickory, NC cityscape

from fayetteville

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

$163

lighter monthly cost than Fayetteville

Cost barely budges between Hickory and Fayetteville. 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

11% cheaper than Fayetteville(vs $1,606/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$8/mo more in state tax than Fayetteville

vs 4.4% in Fayetteville

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$163 more than Fayetteville

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

04a house here

$268k

27% cheaper than Fayetteville

vs $367k in Fayetteville

05metro size

370k

vs 590k in Fayetteville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Fayetteville only logs 170 pleasant days.

A real upgrade on things to do: 2.4× Fayetteville's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

0% lower than Fayetteville

vs 64/100 in Fayetteville

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

·walk score®

70/100

15% lower than Fayetteville

vs 82/100 in Fayetteville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Fayetteville

vs 14 nonstops in Fayetteville

04 · see also

cities that play in hickory's register:

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