on $100k a year, leaving Melbourne

change
Spartanburg, SC cityscape

next stop after melbourne

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

$80

pricier each month than Melbourne

A small premium for Spartanburg. Worth it only if the rest of the city earns it back.
landable, recorded on the spartanburg entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

24% cheaper than Melbourne(vs $1,895/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$542/mo more in state tax than Melbourne

vs 0% in Melbourne

03after rent

$6,358/mo

$80 less than Melbourne

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

04a house here

$277k

21% cheaper than Melbourne

vs $351k in Melbourne

05metro size

383k

vs 644k in Melbourne

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

191

pleasant days a year, in spartanburg.

Melbourne has the edge here, logging 254 pleasant days a year.

·outdoorscore

68/100

24% higher than Melbourne

vs 55/100 in Melbourne

Closest outdoor draw: Croft State Park, 5 mi.

·walk score®

77/100

8% lower than Melbourne

vs 84/100 in Melbourne

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

20

900% more than Melbourne

vs 2 nonstops in Melbourne

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