$100k a year, no longer in Detroit

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Spartanburg, SC cityscape

if you left detroit

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

$149

the monthly cost of moving past Detroit

Spartanburg edges out a little pricier. Close enough that the decision rides on the days, not the dollars.
landable, recorded on the spartanburg entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

3% cheaper than Detroit(vs $1,472/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$188/mo more in state tax than Detroit

vs 4.25% in Detroit

03after rent

$6,358/mo

$149 less than Detroit

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

04a house here

$277k

6% more expensive than Detroit

vs $262k in Detroit

05metro size

383k

vs 4.3M in Detroit

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

191

pleasant days a year, in spartanburg.

Detroit only manages 160 of those.

83% fewer events than Detroit. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

45% higher than Detroit

vs 47/100 in Detroit

Closest outdoor draw: Croft State Park, 5 mi.

·walk score®

77/100

22% lower than Detroit

vs 99/100 in Detroit

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

20

85% fewer than Detroit

vs 135 nonstops in Detroit

04 · see also

same energy as spartanburg, different zip code:

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