$100k salary, packing up from Worcester

change
Hickory, NC cityscape

next stop after worcester

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

in our guides

#9

of 10

Best cities to leave San Francisco for

read the guide
#10

of 10

Best cities to leave Los Angeles for

read the guide
#4

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Austin

read the guide
#9

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Denver

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best small cities to live in

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities to leave Phoenix for

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities to leave Denver for

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to leave Austin for

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities to live in the Southeast

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities in the Carolinas

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to leave Minneapolis for

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities for a $60k salary

read the guide
#4

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Boise

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$747

less monthly outlay than Worcester

The gap is real. Hickory costs noticeably less than Worcester, every month.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

33% cheaper than Worcester(vs $2,140/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$42/mo less in state tax than Worcester

vs 5% in Worcester

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$747 more than Worcester

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

04a house here

$268k

45% cheaper than Worcester

vs $486k in Worcester

05metro size

370k

vs 867k in Worcester

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Worcester keeps to 148 pleasant days a year.

Worcester hosts 1.6× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

8% higher than Worcester

vs 59/100 in Worcester

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

·walk score®

70/100

22% lower than Worcester

vs 90/100 in Worcester

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Worcester

vs 2 nonstops in Worcester

04 · see also

neighbors of hickory on the map of tradeoffs:

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