$100k salary, packing up from Hickory
changea dispatch from
south bend
IN
41.68°N
86.25°W
South Bend is Notre Dame, the Golden Dome, and the Touchdown Jesus mural visible from the football stadium. The St. Joseph River runs through downtown, and the East Bank district has the food and bar scene. The University of Notre Dame campus is genuinely beautiful (the basilica, the lakes, the grottos). Smaller than its national reputation suggests, with a steady college-town pulse.
the verdict
below Hickory's monthly cost
Cost barely budges between South Bend and Hickory. Pick this one for the texture of the days, not the math.
a quick ledger.
$1,391/mo
3% cheaper than Hickory(vs $1,434/mo)
3%
$125/mo less in state tax than Hickory
vs 4.5% in Hickory
$6,692/mo
$168 more than Hickory
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$230k
14% cheaper than Hickory
vs $268k in Hickory
324k
vs 370k in Hickory
field notes, weather & such.
157
pleasant days a year, in south bend.
Hickory actually gets more: 189 pleasant days a year. Cold snaps are part of the year: 40 days below 20° here, 4 in Hickory.
Things to do run about even with Hickory.
53/100
17% lower than Hickory
vs 64/100 in Hickory
Closest outdoor draw: Indiana Dunes National Park, 62.8 mi.
82/100
17% higher than Hickory
vs 70/100 in Hickory
9
0% fewer than Hickory
vs 0 nonstops in Hickory
if south bend appeals, also worth a look:
