City comparison
Hickory, NC vs Utica, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Utica, NY are 4.7% higher than in Hickory, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Hickory, NC would need about $104,700 in Utica, NY to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $908 a month in Hickory, NC and $926 in Utica, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,378 a year higher in Utica, NY than in Hickory, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.2% moving from Hickory, NC to Utica, NY ($108,810 → $106,437), while prices change by +4.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.6% in real buying power.
- Hickory, NC: price level 88.5 (much cheaper)
- Utica, NY: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Hickory, NC | Utica, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 88.5 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,737 in Utica | $95,477 in Hickory |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $908/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,220 | $48,970 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC MSA and Utica-Rome, NY MSA. Metro areas: Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC and Utica-Rome, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Hickory | Utica |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 59.6 | 66.1 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 87.8 | 131.9 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 88.5 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Hickory, NC → Utica, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.5%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,378/yr.
55 Fair offer
Utica, NY → Hickory, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.7%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$1,378/yr.
84 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Hickory, NC is in the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC pay area; Utica, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Hickory, NC to Utica, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Hickory, NC | Utica, NY | Real change, Hickory → Utica |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,098 | $61,722 | −6.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,343 | $74,678 | −6.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,503 | $89,508 | −6.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,810 | $106,437 | −6.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,581 | $125,776 | −6.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Hickory, NC | Utica, NY | Utica pay in Hickory dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $49,540 | $77,010 | $73,527 (+48.4%) |
| Software Developers | $122,540 | $113,390 | $108,261 (−11.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,490 | $79,830 | $76,219 (−1.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,060 | $94,300 | $90,035 (+12.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.