with $100k coming in, swapping out of Washington

change
Hickory, NC cityscape

instead of washington

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

$1,251

less monthly outlay than Washington

Hickory runs on a fraction of Washington's budget. Same paycheck, real lifestyle upgrade.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

39% cheaper than Washington(vs $2,352/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$333/mo less in state tax than Washington

vs 8.5% in Washington

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$1,251 more than Washington

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

04a house here

$268k

57% cheaper than Washington

vs $626k in Washington

05metro size

370k

vs 6.3M in Washington

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Washington barely cracks 177 pleasant ones.

88% fewer events than Washington. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

26% lower than Washington

vs 87/100 in Washington

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

·walk score®

70/100

29% lower than Washington

vs 98/100 in Washington

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Washington

vs 160 nonstops in Washington

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