same $100k income, fresh start from Springfield

change
Hickory, NC cityscape

instead of springfield

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

$520

lighter monthly cost than Springfield

Not a fortune, but real money. Hickory runs cheaper than Springfield month over month.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

25% cheaper than Springfield(vs $1,913/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$42/mo less in state tax than Springfield

vs 5% in Springfield

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$520 more than Springfield

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

04a house here

$268k

28% cheaper than Springfield

vs $373k in Springfield

05metro size

370k

vs 460k in Springfield

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Springfield only logs 147 pleasant days.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 3.2× more on the calendar than Springfield.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

3% lower than Springfield

vs 66/100 in Springfield

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

·walk score®

70/100

20% lower than Springfield

vs 87/100 in Springfield

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Springfield

vs 26 nonstops in Springfield

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as hickory:

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