on $100k a year, leaving Baltimore

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Spartanburg, SC cityscape

from baltimore

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

$576

lighter monthly cost than Baltimore

Spartanburg gives you room Baltimore 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

23% cheaper than Baltimore(vs $1,868/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$142/mo less in state tax than Baltimore

vs 8.2% in Baltimore

03after rent

$6,358/mo

$576 more than Baltimore

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

04a house here

$277k

33% cheaper than Baltimore

vs $412k in Baltimore

05metro size

383k

vs 2.8M in Baltimore

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

191

pleasant days a year, in spartanburg.

Baltimore only logs 168 pleasant days.

Noticeably quieter than Baltimore. About 78% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

3% higher than Baltimore

vs 66/100 in Baltimore

Closest outdoor draw: Croft State Park, 5 mi.

·walk score®

77/100

21% lower than Baltimore

vs 98/100 in Baltimore

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

20

72% fewer than Baltimore

vs 72 nonstops in Baltimore

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as spartanburg:

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