same $100k income, fresh start from Columbus
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
more expensive each month than Columbus
A small premium for Lancaster. Worth it only if the rest of the city earns it back.
a quick ledger.
$1,517/mo
20% more expensive than Columbus(vs $1,264/mo)
3.07%
$202/mo less in state tax than Columbus
vs 5.49% in Columbus
$6,561/mo
$51 less than Columbus
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$384k
85% more expensive than Columbus
vs $208k in Columbus
559k
vs 329k in Columbus
field notes, weather & such.
158
pleasant days a year, in lancaster.
Columbus actually gets more: 177 pleasant days a year. Winter shows up, though: 25 days below 20° vs Columbus's 2.
But the calendar thins out: Columbus stays 1.5× busier.
63/100
34% higher than Columbus
vs 47/100 in Columbus
Closest outdoor draw: Susquehanna Riverlands State Park, 18.3 mi.
97/100
24% higher than Columbus
vs 78/100 in Columbus
1
0% fewer than Columbus
vs 1 nonstops in Columbus
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