$100k salary, packing up from Philadelphia

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Hickory, NC cityscape

from philadelphia

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

$628

less monthly outlay than Philadelphia

The gap is real. Hickory costs noticeably less than Philadelphia, every month.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

23% cheaper than Philadelphia(vs $1,869/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$193/mo less in state tax than Philadelphia

vs 6.82% in Philadelphia

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$628 more than Philadelphia

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

04a house here

$268k

32% cheaper than Philadelphia

vs $393k in Philadelphia

05metro size

370k

vs 6.2M in Philadelphia

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Philadelphia only manages 173 of those.

But the calendar thins out: Philadelphia stays 9.7× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

7% lower than Philadelphia

vs 69/100 in Philadelphia

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

·walk score®

70/100

30% lower than Philadelphia

vs 100/100 in Philadelphia

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Philadelphia

vs 122 nonstops in Philadelphia

04 · see also

if hickory appeals, also worth a look:

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