$100k a year, no longer in Portland

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Hickory, NC cityscape

next stop after portland

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

$701

less monthly outlay than Portland

Hickory is the easier version of your monthly budget. Lower rent, lighter monthly outlay.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

19% cheaper than Portland(vs $1,781/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$354/mo less in state tax than Portland

vs 8.75% in Portland

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$701 more than Portland

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

04a house here

$268k

52% cheaper than Portland

vs $562k in Portland

05metro size

370k

vs 2.5M in Portland

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Portland barely cracks 178 pleasant ones.

85% fewer events than Portland. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

26% lower than Portland

vs 87/100 in Portland

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

·walk score®

70/100

30% lower than Portland

vs 100/100 in Portland

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Portland

vs 57 nonstops in Portland

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