on $100k a year, leaving Ann Arbor

change
Spartanburg, SC cityscape

swapping out of ann arbor

Spartanburg

sc · metro 383k

photo: Jenny Gregg / pexels

a dispatch from

spartanburg

SC

34.95°N

81.93°W

Spartanburg is the Upstate of South Carolina, with rolling foothills, peach orchards (yes, South Carolina actually grows more peaches than Georgia in some years), and the largest BMW manufacturing plant in the world just outside town. The downtown's been revitalizing with breweries and restaurants. Wofford and Converse keep college energy in town. The Blue Ridge is right there.

metro383k

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$461

lighter monthly cost than Ann Arbor

Spartanburg gives you room Ann Arbor doesn't. Same gross salary, lower monthly cost of living.
landable, recorded on the spartanburg entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

31% cheaper than Ann Arbor(vs $2,082/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$188/mo more in state tax than Ann Arbor

vs 4.25% in Ann Arbor

03after rent

$6,358/mo

$461 more than Ann Arbor

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

04a house here

$277k

35% cheaper than Ann Arbor

vs $429k in Ann Arbor

05metro size

383k

vs 366k in Ann Arbor

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

191

pleasant days a year, in spartanburg.

Ann Arbor barely cracks 154 pleasant ones.

A similar weekend lineup to Ann Arbor.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

21% higher than Ann Arbor

vs 56/100 in Ann Arbor

Closest outdoor draw: Croft State Park, 5 mi.

·walk score®

77/100

21% lower than Ann Arbor

vs 97/100 in Ann Arbor

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

20

85% fewer than Ann Arbor

vs 135 nonstops in Ann Arbor

04 · see also

neighbors of spartanburg on the map of tradeoffs:

see also

greenville

better weather

turn the page

see also

hickory

$166/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

richmond

similar overall lifestyle

turn the page

compare spartanburg with:

GreenvilleHickoryRichmond