on $100k a year, leaving Chattanooga

change
Spartanburg, SC cityscape

instead of chattanooga

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

$451

pricier each month than Chattanooga

You'd pay for Spartanburg. The question is whether the days are worth the difference.
landable, recorded on the spartanburg entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

6% cheaper than Chattanooga(vs $1,524/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$542/mo more in state tax than Chattanooga

vs 0% in Chattanooga

03after rent

$6,358/mo

$451 less than Chattanooga

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

04a house here

$277k

14% cheaper than Chattanooga

vs $322k in Chattanooga

05metro size

383k

vs 580k in Chattanooga

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

191

pleasant days a year, in spartanburg.

Chattanooga only manages 167 of those.

Noticeably quieter than Chattanooga. About 35% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

1% lower than Chattanooga

vs 69/100 in Chattanooga

Closest outdoor draw: Croft State Park, 5 mi.

·walk score®

77/100

6% lower than Chattanooga

vs 82/100 in Chattanooga

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

20

150% more than Chattanooga

vs 8 nonstops in Chattanooga

04 · see also

neighbors of spartanburg on the map of tradeoffs:

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