with $100k coming in, swapping out of Mobile

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Hickory, NC cityscape

swapping out of mobile

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

$91

the monthly premium over Mobile

Barely costlier than Mobile. If Hickory pulls you in, it's the life it offers, not the price tag.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

10% more expensive than Mobile(vs $1,302/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$42/mo less in state tax than Mobile

vs 5% in Mobile

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$91 less than Mobile

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

04a house here

$268k

38% more expensive than Mobile

vs $194k in Mobile

05metro size

370k

vs 412k in Mobile

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Mobile gets 225 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine.

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

64/100

8% higher than Mobile

vs 59/100 in Mobile

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

·walk score®

70/100

1% higher than Mobile

vs 69/100 in Mobile

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Mobile

vs 5 nonstops in Mobile

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

turn the page

see also

lancaster

$37/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare hickory with:

SpartanburgRoanokeLancaster