01 · the cities
Hickory
Hickory is North Carolina's furniture capital, with the Hickory Furniture Mart and the surrounding factories shaping the local economy. The downtown has come back nicely with breweries and a walkable feel. The Blue Ridge foothills start just outside town. Lake Hickory is right there for boating. Cheaper than the bigger NC cities, with mountain access an hour away.
full dispatch→Roanoke
Roanoke is the Star City of the South, named for the enormous illuminated star on Mill Mountain that's been lighting up the valley since 1949. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs right past town. The downtown has come back beautifully with the Taubman Museum, breweries, and a thriving market. The surrounding mountains are gorgeous in every season. Smaller and more scenic than people expect.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,434/mo
$1,382/mo
$52/mo less than Hickory (4%)
Median home price
Median home price
$268k
$296k
$28k more than Hickory
State income tax
State income tax
4.5%
5.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,524/mo
$6,472/mo
Hickory has $52/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
189 days
179 days
10 fewer than Hickory
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
11 days
2 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
4 days
21 days
days below 20°F per year
Hickory has 9 more days above 95°F each year than Roanoke. Roanoke drops below 20°F on 17 more days per year than Hickory.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
64 / 100
69 / 100
5.0 pts ahead of Hickory
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
0 routes
9 routes
9 more direct routes than Hickory
Metro size
Metro size
370k metro
314k metro
Hickory has 1.6x more events per month than Roanoke.
the verdict
5
Hickory
categories won
4
Roanoke
categories won
Hickory wins on money and weather. Roanoke has the edge on lifestyle.
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