on $100k a year, leaving Myrtle Beach

change
Hickory, NC cityscape

if you left myrtle beach

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

$459

under Myrtle Beach, every month

Hickory gives you room Myrtle Beach doesn't. Same gross salary, lower monthly cost of living.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

17% cheaper than Myrtle Beach(vs $1,727/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$167/mo less in state tax than Myrtle Beach

vs 6.5% in Myrtle Beach

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$459 more than Myrtle Beach

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

04a house here

$268k

26% cheaper than Myrtle Beach

vs $361k in Myrtle Beach

05metro size

370k

vs 397k in Myrtle Beach

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Myrtle Beach gets 249 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine.

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

64/100

10% higher than Myrtle Beach

vs 58/100 in Myrtle Beach

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

·walk score®

70/100

27% higher than Myrtle Beach

vs 55/100 in Myrtle Beach

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Myrtle Beach

vs 23 nonstops in Myrtle Beach

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