same $100k income, fresh start from Lancaster

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Hickory, NC cityscape

if you left lancaster

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

$37

more expensive each month than Lancaster

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

5% cheaper than Lancaster(vs $1,517/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$119/mo more in state tax than Lancaster

vs 3.07% in Lancaster

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$37 less than Lancaster

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

04a house here

$268k

30% cheaper than Lancaster

vs $384k in Lancaster

05metro size

370k

vs 559k in Lancaster

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Lancaster keeps to 158 pleasant days a year.

About as much going on as in Lancaster.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

2% higher than Lancaster

vs 63/100 in Lancaster

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

·walk score®

70/100

28% lower than Lancaster

vs 97/100 in Lancaster

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Lancaster

vs 1 nonstops in Lancaster

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

dayton

$156/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare hickory with:

SpartanburgRoanokeDayton