$100k salary, packing up from Richmond

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Hickory, NC cityscape

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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

$361

less monthly outlay than Richmond

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

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

15% cheaper than Richmond(vs $1,691/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$104/mo less in state tax than Richmond

vs 5.75% in Richmond

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$361 more than Richmond

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

04a house here

$268k

32% cheaper than Richmond

vs $394k in Richmond

05metro size

370k

vs 1.4M in Richmond

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Richmond barely cracks 172 pleasant ones.

Noticeably quieter than Richmond. About 67% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

2% lower than Richmond

vs 65/100 in Richmond

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

·walk score®

70/100

1% higher than Richmond

vs 69/100 in Richmond

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Richmond

vs 19 nonstops in Richmond

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