01 · the cities
Salinas
Salinas is the Salad Bowl of the World, where most of the country's leafy greens, strawberries, and broccoli come from. John Steinbeck grew up here and the National Steinbeck Center downtown is excellent. The Salinas Rodeo is a century-old summer event. The Monterey Bay is 20 minutes west, but the city itself is a working ag town with strong Mexican-American culture.
full dispatch→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→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,813/mo
$1,434/mo
$1,379/mo less than Salinas (96%)
Median home price
Median home price
$862k
$268k
$594k less than Salinas
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
4.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,745/mo
$6,524/mo
Hickory has $1,779/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
335 days
189 days
146 fewer than Salinas
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
11 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
4 days
days below 20°F per year
Hickory has 11 more days above 95°F each year than Salinas.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
71 / 100
64 / 100
7.0 pts behind Salinas
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
6 routes
0 routes
6 fewer direct routes than Salinas
Metro size
Metro size
431k metro
370k metro
the verdict
4
Salinas
categories won
4
Hickory
categories won
Salinas wins on weather and lifestyle, Hickory wins on money. Dead even.
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