$100k a year, no longer in Rochester

change
Spartanburg, SC cityscape

instead of rochester

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

in our guides

#5

of 10

Affordable cities for outdoor lovers

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to leave San Francisco for

read the guide
#7

of 10

Most vibrant and affordable cities

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for retirees who love the outdoors

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities for mild four-season weather

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities to leave Los Angeles for

read the guide
#3

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Austin

read the guide
#3

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Denver

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities to live in the South

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best small cities to live in

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities to leave Phoenix for

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to leave Denver for

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities to leave Austin for

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities on the East Coast

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for a $75k salary

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities to buy a home

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to live in the Southeast

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities in the Carolinas

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities for a $60k salary

read the guide
#1

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Boise

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$46

less monthly outlay than Rochester

On paper, Spartanburg and Rochester are twins. In practice they live very differently.
landable, recorded on the spartanburg entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

7% cheaper than Rochester(vs $1,534/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$54/mo more in state tax than Rochester

vs 5.85% in Rochester

03after rent

$6,358/mo

$46 more than Rochester

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

04a house here

$277k

1% more expensive than Rochester

vs $273k in Rochester

05metro size

383k

vs 1.1M in Rochester

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

191

pleasant days a year, in spartanburg.

Rochester barely cracks 147 pleasant ones.

Lighter on events: Rochester packs 2.0× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

17% higher than Rochester

vs 58/100 in Rochester

Closest outdoor draw: Croft State Park, 5 mi.

·walk score®

77/100

12% higher than Rochester

vs 69/100 in Rochester

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

20

11% more than Rochester

vs 18 nonstops in Rochester

04 · see also

if spartanburg appeals, also worth a look:

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