on $100k a year, leaving Louisville

change
Hickory, NC cityscape

if you left louisville

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.

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$66

pricier each month than Louisville

A small premium for Hickory. Worth it only if the rest of the city earns it back.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

5% more expensive than Louisville(vs $1,368/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

vs 4.5% in Louisville

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$66 less than Louisville

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

04a house here

$268k

5% cheaper than Louisville

vs $282k in Louisville

05metro size

370k

vs 1.4M in Louisville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Louisville keeps to 181 pleasant days a year.

Lighter on events: Louisville packs 4.8× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

19% higher than Louisville

vs 54/100 in Louisville

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

·walk score®

70/100

26% lower than Louisville

vs 94/100 in Louisville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Louisville

vs 22 nonstops in Louisville

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