$100k a year, no longer in Birmingham

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Spartanburg, SC cityscape

swapping out of birmingham

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

$152

the monthly cost of moving past Birmingham

A small premium for Spartanburg. Worth it only if the rest of the city earns it back.
landable, recorded on the spartanburg entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

2% more expensive than Birmingham(vs $1,407/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$125/mo more in state tax than Birmingham

vs 5% in Birmingham

03after rent

$6,358/mo

$152 less than Birmingham

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

04a house here

$277k

6% more expensive than Birmingham

vs $261k in Birmingham

05metro size

383k

vs 1.2M in Birmingham

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

191

pleasant days a year, in spartanburg.

Birmingham only manages 171 of those.

Noticeably quieter than Birmingham. About 83% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

11% higher than Birmingham

vs 61/100 in Birmingham

Closest outdoor draw: Croft State Park, 5 mi.

·walk score®

77/100

3% lower than Birmingham

vs 79/100 in Birmingham

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

20

0% fewer than Birmingham

vs 20 nonstops in Birmingham

04 · see also

cities that play in spartanburg's register:

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