with $100k coming in, swapping out of Gainesville

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Hickory, NC cityscape

from gainesville

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

$164

the monthly premium over Gainesville

Almost a wash on cost. The case for Hickory is about what you'd do there, not what you'd save.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

13% cheaper than Gainesville(vs $1,645/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$375/mo more in state tax than Gainesville

vs 0% in Gainesville

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$164 less than Gainesville

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

04a house here

$268k

15% cheaper than Gainesville

vs $317k in Gainesville

05metro size

370k

vs 350k in Gainesville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Gainesville edges ahead with 206 pleasant days.

A real upgrade on things to do: 6.3× Gainesville's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

2% higher than Gainesville

vs 63/100 in Gainesville

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

·walk score®

70/100

23% lower than Gainesville

vs 91/100 in Gainesville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Gainesville

vs 5 nonstops in Gainesville

04 · see also

neighbors of hickory on the map of tradeoffs:

see also

spartanburg

more flight options

turn the page

see also

roanoke

better park access

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see also

lancaster

$37/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare hickory with:

SpartanburgRoanokeLancaster