$100k salary, packing up from San Luis Obispo

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Hickory, NC cityscape

instead of san luis obispo

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

$2,061

below San Luis Obispo's monthly cost

Hickory sits well below San Luis Obispo on cost. Same paycheck, a noticeably lighter month.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

54% cheaper than San Luis Obispo(vs $3,095/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$400/mo less in state tax than San Luis Obispo

vs 9.3% in San Luis Obispo

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$2,061 more than San Luis Obispo

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

04a house here

$268k

71% cheaper than San Luis Obispo

vs $934k in San Luis Obispo

05metro size

370k

vs 282k in San Luis Obispo

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

San Luis Obispo edges ahead with 303 pleasant days.

1.9× the events of San Luis Obispo, and the calendar shows it.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

6% lower than San Luis Obispo

vs 68/100 in San Luis Obispo

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

·walk score®

70/100

29% lower than San Luis Obispo

vs 98/100 in San Luis Obispo

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than San Luis Obispo

vs 3 nonstops in San Luis Obispo

04 · see also

if hickory appeals, also worth a look:

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