$100k salary, packing up from Hickory

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Portland, OR cityscape

swapping out of hickory

Portland

or · metro 2.5M

photo: Rufina Rusakova / pexels

a dispatch from

portland

OR

45.52°N

122.68°W

Portland is food carts, bridges, donuts shaped like Voodoo dolls, and a low-key obsession with doing things the hard, hand-made way. The 'Keep Portland Weird' bumper sticker is older than most of the influencers who quote it. Mt. Hood pops into view between buildings on clear mornings, and the bike infrastructure puts most American cities to shame. Coffee here is treated like wine.

metro2.5M

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$701

the monthly premium over Hickory

Portland runs a little pricier than Hickory. The case has to be about something other than rent.
landable, recorded on the portland entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,781/mo

24% more expensive than Hickory(vs $1,434/mo)

02state income tax

8.75%

$354/mo more in state tax than Hickory

vs 4.5% in Hickory

03after rent

$5,823/mo

$701 less than Hickory

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

04a house here

$562k

110% more expensive than Hickory

vs $268k in Hickory

05metro size

2.5M

vs 370k in Hickory

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

178

pleasant days a year, in portland.

Hickory edges ahead with 189 pleasant days.

A real upgrade on things to do: 6.5× Hickory's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

87/100

36% higher than Hickory

vs 64/100 in Hickory

Closest outdoor draw: Mt. Hood National Forest, 40.4 mi.

·walk score®

100/100

43% higher than Hickory

vs 70/100 in Hickory

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

57

0% fewer than Hickory

vs 0 nonstops in Hickory

04 · see also

same energy as portland, different zip code:

see also

albuquerque

$530/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

cincinnati

$629/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

salt lake city

$515/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare portland with:

AlbuquerqueCincinnatiSalt Lake City