$100k salary, packing up from Hartford
changea dispatch from
raleigh
NC
35.78°N
78.64°W
Raleigh is the third leg of the Research Triangle, full of oaks (its nickname is the City of Oaks), state museums that are all free, and a downtown that's grown up fast without losing its quiet edges. NC State pumps young energy in, the food scene is sneaky-good, and the surrounding pine forests make summer evenings smell incredible. Beaches are two hours east, mountains three hours west.
in our guides
the verdict
below Hartford's monthly cost
The gap is real. Raleigh costs noticeably less than Hartford, every month.
a quick ledger.
$1,663/mo
14% cheaper than Hartford(vs $1,931/mo)
4.5%
$83/mo less in state tax than Hartford
vs 5.5% in Hartford
$6,295/mo
$351 more than Hartford
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$440k
7% more expensive than Hartford
vs $411k in Hartford
1.5M
vs 1.2M in Hartford
field notes, weather & such.
201
pleasant days a year, in raleigh.
Hartford only manages 148 of those.
A real upgrade on things to do: 1.6× Hartford's pace.
58/100
13% lower than Hartford
vs 67/100 in Hartford
Closest outdoor draw: William B. Umstead State Park, 9.9 mi.
97/100
7% higher than Hartford
vs 91/100 in Hartford
39
50% more than Hartford
vs 26 nonstops in Hartford
