with $100k coming in, swapping out of Gainesville

change
Spartanburg, SC cityscape

if you left gainesville

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

$330

the monthly premium over Gainesville

Spartanburg costs meaningfully more. Whether it earns that back in the day-to-day is the actual question.
landable, recorded on the spartanburg entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

13% cheaper than Gainesville(vs $1,645/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$542/mo more in state tax than Gainesville

vs 0% in Gainesville

03after rent

$6,358/mo

$330 less than Gainesville

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

04a house here

$277k

12% cheaper than Gainesville

vs $317k in Gainesville

05metro size

383k

vs 350k in Gainesville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

191

pleasant days a year, in spartanburg.

Gainesville has the edge here, logging 206 pleasant days a year.

A real upgrade on things to do: 5.0× Gainesville's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

8% higher than Gainesville

vs 63/100 in Gainesville

Closest outdoor draw: Croft State Park, 5 mi.

·walk score®

77/100

15% lower than Gainesville

vs 91/100 in Gainesville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

20

300% more than Gainesville

vs 5 nonstops in Gainesville

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