$100k a year, no longer in Charlotte

change
Spartanburg, SC cityscape

swapping out of charlotte

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

in our guides

#5

of 10

Affordable cities for outdoor lovers

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to leave San Francisco for

read the guide
#7

of 10

Most vibrant and affordable cities

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for retirees who love the outdoors

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities for mild four-season weather

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities to leave Los Angeles for

read the guide
#3

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Austin

read the guide
#3

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Denver

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities to live in the South

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best small cities to live in

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities to leave Phoenix for

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to leave Denver for

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities to leave Austin for

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities on the East Coast

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for a $75k salary

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities to buy a home

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to live in the Southeast

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities in the Carolinas

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities for a $60k salary

read the guide
#1

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Boise

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$128

less monthly outlay than Charlotte

On paper, Spartanburg and Charlotte are twins. In practice they live very differently.
landable, recorded on the spartanburg entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

17% cheaper than Charlotte(vs $1,728/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$167/mo more in state tax than Charlotte

vs 4.5% in Charlotte

03after rent

$6,358/mo

$128 more than Charlotte

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

04a house here

$277k

29% cheaper than Charlotte

vs $391k in Charlotte

05metro size

383k

vs 2.8M in Charlotte

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

191

pleasant days a year, in spartanburg.

Charlotte has the edge here, logging 200 pleasant days a year.

But the calendar thins out: Charlotte stays 7.5× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

33% higher than Charlotte

vs 51/100 in Charlotte

Closest outdoor draw: Croft State Park, 5 mi.

·walk score®

77/100

18% lower than Charlotte

vs 94/100 in Charlotte

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

20

86% fewer than Charlotte

vs 141 nonstops in Charlotte

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