same $100k income, fresh start from San Diego

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Hickory, NC cityscape

next stop after san diego

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

$1,856

lighter monthly cost than San Diego

Hickory is the kind of cheap that changes the math. Same salary, a different life on the other side.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

50% cheaper than San Diego(vs $2,890/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$400/mo less in state tax than San Diego

vs 9.3% in San Diego

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$1,856 more than San Diego

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

04a house here

$268k

73% cheaper than San Diego

vs $1010k in San Diego

05metro size

370k

vs 3.3M in San Diego

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

San Diego edges ahead with 332 pleasant days.

Lighter on events: San Diego packs 9.2× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

15% lower than San Diego

vs 75/100 in San Diego

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

·walk score®

70/100

29% lower than San Diego

vs 99/100 in San Diego

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than San Diego

vs 55 nonstops in San Diego

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