$100k a year, no longer in Hagerstown

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Hickory, NC cityscape

from hagerstown

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

$461

less monthly outlay than Hagerstown

Hickory is the easier version of your monthly budget. Lower rent, lighter monthly outlay.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

10% cheaper than Hagerstown(vs $1,587/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$308/mo less in state tax than Hagerstown

vs 8.2% in Hagerstown

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$461 more than Hagerstown

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

04a house here

$268k

16% cheaper than Hagerstown

vs $321k in Hagerstown

05metro size

370k

vs 305k in Hagerstown

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Hagerstown only logs 160 pleasant days.

Things to do run about even with Hagerstown.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

14% higher than Hagerstown

vs 56/100 in Hagerstown

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

·walk score®

70/100

20% lower than Hagerstown

vs 88/100 in Hagerstown

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Hagerstown

vs 2 nonstops in Hagerstown

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as hickory:

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