with $100k coming in, swapping out of San Jose

change
Hickory, NC cityscape

from san jose

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

in our guides

#9

of 10

Best cities to leave San Francisco for

read the guide
#10

of 10

Best cities to leave Los Angeles for

read the guide
#4

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Austin

read the guide
#9

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Denver

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best small cities to live in

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities to leave Phoenix for

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities to leave Denver for

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to leave Austin for

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities to live in the Southeast

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities in the Carolinas

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to leave Minneapolis for

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities for a $60k salary

read the guide
#4

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Boise

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$2,436

cheaper each month than San Jose

In Hickory, rent stops being the headline. The cost gap shows up every month without you trying.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

59% cheaper than San Jose(vs $3,470/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$400/mo less in state tax than San Jose

vs 9.3% in San Jose

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$2,436 more than San Jose

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

04a house here

$268k

85% cheaper than San Jose

vs $1796k in San Jose

05metro size

370k

vs 1.9M in San Jose

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

San Jose has the edge here, logging 283 pleasant days a year.

Noticeably quieter than San Jose. About 69% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

9% lower than San Jose

vs 70/100 in San Jose

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

·walk score®

70/100

26% lower than San Jose

vs 95/100 in San Jose

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than San Jose

vs 29 nonstops in San Jose

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