$100k a year, no longer in Charleston
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
under Charleston, every month
Lancaster is the easier version of your monthly budget. Lower rent, lighter monthly outlay.
a quick ledger.
$1,517/mo
24% cheaper than Charleston(vs $1,987/mo)
3.07%
$286/mo less in state tax than Charleston
vs 6.5% in Charleston
$6,561/mo
$756 more than Charleston
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$384k
11% cheaper than Charleston
vs $432k in Charleston
559k
vs 849k in Charleston
field notes, weather & such.
158
pleasant days a year, in lancaster.
Charleston gets 212 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine. Winter has bite, though: 25 days drop below 20° vs Charleston's 0.
Lighter on events: Charleston packs 2.7× more into a month.
63/100
6% lower than Charleston
vs 67/100 in Charleston
Closest outdoor draw: Susquehanna Riverlands State Park, 18.3 mi.
97/100
5% higher than Charleston
vs 92/100 in Charleston
1
95% fewer than Charleston
vs 20 nonstops in Charleston
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