on $100k a year, leaving Phoenix

change
Hickory, NC cityscape

from phoenix

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

$138

lighter monthly cost than Phoenix

Cost barely budges between Hickory and Phoenix. Pick this one for the texture of the days, not the math.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

18% cheaper than Phoenix(vs $1,739/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$167/mo more in state tax than Phoenix

vs 2.5% in Phoenix

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$138 more than Phoenix

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

04a house here

$268k

41% cheaper than Phoenix

vs $458k in Phoenix

05metro size

370k

vs 5.1M in Phoenix

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Phoenix only manages 181 of those.

Phoenix hosts 10.5× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

3% lower than Phoenix

vs 66/100 in Phoenix

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

·walk score®

70/100

28% lower than Phoenix

vs 97/100 in Phoenix

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Phoenix

vs 91 nonstops in Phoenix

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