on $100k a year, leaving Portland

change
Spartanburg, SC cityscape

if you left portland

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

$935

below Portland's monthly cost

Spartanburg runs on a fraction of Portland's budget. Same paycheck, real lifestyle upgrade.
landable, recorded on the spartanburg entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

37% cheaper than Portland(vs $2,285/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$83/mo less in state tax than Portland

vs 7.5% in Portland

03after rent

$6,358/mo

$935 more than Portland

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

04a house here

$277k

49% cheaper than Portland

vs $543k in Portland

05metro size

383k

vs 566k in Portland

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

191

pleasant days a year, in spartanburg.

Portland only logs 145 pleasant days.

But the calendar thins out: Portland stays 2.1× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

4% lower than Portland

vs 71/100 in Portland

Closest outdoor draw: Croft State Park, 5 mi.

·walk score®

77/100

21% lower than Portland

vs 98/100 in Portland

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

20

900% more than Portland

vs 2 nonstops in Portland

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