on $100k a year, leaving Omaha

change
Hickory, NC cityscape

instead of omaha

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

$89

lighter monthly cost than Omaha

On paper, Hickory and Omaha are twins. In practice they live very differently.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

2% more expensive than Omaha(vs $1,412/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$112/mo less in state tax than Omaha

vs 5.84% in Omaha

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$89 more than Omaha

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

04a house here

$268k

12% cheaper than Omaha

vs $306k in Omaha

05metro size

370k

vs 985k in Omaha

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Omaha only logs 145 pleasant days.

69% fewer events than Omaha. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

21% higher than Omaha

vs 53/100 in Omaha

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

·walk score®

70/100

20% lower than Omaha

vs 87/100 in Omaha

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Omaha

vs 19 nonstops in Omaha

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