with $100k coming in, swapping out of Birmingham
changea dispatch from
lancaster
PA
40.04°N
76.30°W
Lancaster is the heart of Pennsylvania Amish country, with horse-drawn buggies on rural roads and the Central Market (the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the country, since the 1730s). The food scene is sneaky-strong, the surrounding farmland is gorgeous, and the city's downtown has come back nicely. Whoopie pies, shoofly pies, and sticky buns are mandatory.
the verdict
lighter monthly cost than Birmingham
On paper, Lancaster and Birmingham are twins. In practice they live very differently.
a quick ledger.
$1,517/mo
8% more expensive than Birmingham(vs $1,407/mo)
3.07%
$161/mo less in state tax than Birmingham
vs 5% in Birmingham
$6,561/mo
$51 more than Birmingham
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$384k
47% more expensive than Birmingham
vs $261k in Birmingham
559k
vs 1.2M in Birmingham
field notes, weather & such.
158
pleasant days a year, in lancaster.
Birmingham edges ahead with 171 pleasant days. Winter has bite, though: 25 days drop below 20° vs Birmingham's 4.
Lighter on events: Birmingham packs 6.0× more into a month.
63/100
3% higher than Birmingham
vs 61/100 in Birmingham
Closest outdoor draw: Susquehanna Riverlands State Park, 18.3 mi.
97/100
23% higher than Birmingham
vs 79/100 in Birmingham
1
95% fewer than Birmingham
vs 20 nonstops in Birmingham
compare lancaster with:
