$100k a year, no longer in Seattle

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Hickory, NC cityscape

instead of seattle

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

$384

less monthly outlay than Seattle

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

35% cheaper than Seattle(vs $2,193/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$375/mo more in state tax than Seattle

vs 0% in Seattle

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$384 more than Seattle

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

04a house here

$268k

66% cheaper than Seattle

vs $791k in Seattle

05metro size

370k

vs 4.0M in Seattle

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Seattle keeps to 182 pleasant days a year.

93% fewer events than Seattle. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

31% lower than Seattle

vs 93/100 in Seattle

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

·walk score®

70/100

29% lower than Seattle

vs 98/100 in Seattle

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Seattle

vs 90 nonstops in Seattle

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