with $100k coming in, swapping out of Wichita

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Hickory, NC cityscape

from wichita

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

$161

the monthly premium over Wichita

Almost a wash on cost. The case for Hickory is about what you'd do there, not what you'd save.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

22% more expensive than Wichita(vs $1,173/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$100/mo less in state tax than Wichita

vs 5.7% in Wichita

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$161 less than Wichita

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

04a house here

$268k

21% more expensive than Wichita

vs $221k in Wichita

05metro size

370k

vs 653k in Wichita

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Wichita barely cracks 164 pleasant ones.

Comparable to Wichita for events and concerts.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

23% higher than Wichita

vs 52/100 in Wichita

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

·walk score®

70/100

1% higher than Wichita

vs 69/100 in Wichita

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Wichita

vs 11 nonstops in Wichita

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