with $100k coming in, swapping out of Durham

change
Spartanburg, SC cityscape

if you left durham

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

$84

less monthly outlay than Durham

Spartanburg and Durham land close on cost. The reasons to move are about how you'd live, not what you'd save.
landable, recorded on the spartanburg entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

15% cheaper than Durham(vs $1,684/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$167/mo more in state tax than Durham

vs 4.5% in Durham

03after rent

$6,358/mo

$84 more than Durham

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

04a house here

$277k

33% cheaper than Durham

vs $415k in Durham

05metro size

383k

vs 609k in Durham

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

191

pleasant days a year, in spartanburg.

Durham barely cracks 178 pleasant ones.

Lighter on events: Durham packs 2.3× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

36% higher than Durham

vs 50/100 in Durham

Closest outdoor draw: Croft State Park, 5 mi.

·walk score®

77/100

4% lower than Durham

vs 80/100 in Durham

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

20

49% fewer than Durham

vs 39 nonstops in Durham

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