with $100k coming in, swapping out of Columbus

change
Hickory, NC cityscape

instead of columbus

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

$34

lighter monthly cost than Columbus

Money-wise it's a wash. The case for Hickory is everything that isn't rent.
landable, recorded on the hickory entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

5% cheaper than Columbus(vs $1,511/mo)

02state income tax

4.5%

$43/mo more in state tax than Columbus

vs 3.99% in Columbus

03after rent

$6,524/mo

$34 more than Columbus

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

04a house here

$268k

23% cheaper than Columbus

vs $350k in Columbus

05metro size

370k

vs 2.2M in Columbus

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

189

pleasant days a year, in hickory.

Columbus only logs 171 pleasant days.

Columbus hosts 6.1× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

64/100

12% higher than Columbus

vs 57/100 in Columbus

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

·walk score®

70/100

18% lower than Columbus

vs 85/100 in Columbus

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

0

100% fewer than Columbus

vs 32 nonstops in Columbus

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