$100k a year, no longer in Little Rock

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Hickory, NC cityscape

from little rock

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

$234

more each month than Little Rock ran you

Hickory costs more than Little Rock, and you'll feel it. The upside has to come from somewhere other than your budget.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

19% more expensive than Little Rock(vs $1,209/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$8/mo more in state tax than Little Rock

vs 4.4% in Little Rock

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$234 less than Little Rock

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

04a house here

$268k

18% more expensive than Little Rock

vs $228k in Little Rock

05metro size

370k

vs 765k in Little Rock

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Little Rock only logs 163 pleasant days.

1.5× the events of Little Rock, and the calendar shows it.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

19% higher than Little Rock

vs 54/100 in Little Rock

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

·walk score®

70/100

43% higher than Little Rock

vs 49/100 in Little Rock

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Little Rock

vs 17 nonstops in Little Rock

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