with $100k coming in, swapping out of Boston

change
Spartanburg, SC cityscape

instead of boston

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

$1,586

less monthly outlay than Boston

In Spartanburg, rent stops being the headline. The cost gap shows up every month without you trying.
landable, recorded on the spartanburg entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

54% cheaper than Boston(vs $3,145/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$125/mo more in state tax than Boston

vs 5% in Boston

03after rent

$6,358/mo

$1,586 more than Boston

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

04a house here

$277k

64% cheaper than Boston

vs $771k in Boston

05metro size

383k

vs 4.9M in Boston

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

191

pleasant days a year, in spartanburg.

Boston only manages 160 of those.

But the calendar thins out: Boston stays 11.2× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

4% lower than Boston

vs 71/100 in Boston

Closest outdoor draw: Croft State Park, 5 mi.

·walk score®

77/100

21% lower than Boston

vs 98/100 in Boston

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

20

81% fewer than Boston

vs 103 nonstops in Boston

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