same $100k income, fresh start from Austin

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Spartanburg, SC cityscape

swapping out of austin

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

$392

more expensive each month than Austin

Spartanburg runs a little pricier than Austin. The case has to be about something other than rent.
landable, recorded on the spartanburg entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

9% cheaper than Austin(vs $1,583/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$542/mo more in state tax than Austin

vs 0% in Austin

03after rent

$6,358/mo

$392 less than Austin

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

04a house here

$277k

36% cheaper than Austin

vs $433k in Austin

05metro size

383k

vs 2.5M in Austin

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

191

pleasant days a year, in spartanburg.

Austin barely cracks 170 pleasant ones.

Noticeably quieter than Austin. About 88% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

21% higher than Austin

vs 56/100 in Austin

Closest outdoor draw: Croft State Park, 5 mi.

·walk score®

77/100

22% lower than Austin

vs 99/100 in Austin

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

20

52% fewer than Austin

vs 42 nonstops in Austin

04 · see also

if spartanburg appeals, also worth a look:

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