City comparison
Fort Wayne, IN vs Hickory, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fort Wayne, IN are 4.6% higher than in Hickory, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Hickory, NC would need about $104,600 in Fort Wayne, IN to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $916 a month in Fort Wayne, IN and $908 in Hickory, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $561 a year higher in Hickory, NC than in Fort Wayne, IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +2.2% moving from Fort Wayne, IN to Hickory, NC ($106,437 → $108,810), while prices change by −4.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +7.0% in real buying power.
- Fort Wayne, IN: price level 92.6 (cheaper)
- Hickory, NC: price level 88.5 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fort Wayne, IN | Hickory, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.6 | 88.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,586 in Hickory | $104,618 in Fort Wayne |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $916/mo | $908/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,700 | $45,220 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC |
Rent areas: Fort Wayne, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC MSA. Metro areas: Fort Wayne, IN and Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fort Wayne | Hickory |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 72.3 | 59.6 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 86.2 | 87.8 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 92.6 | 88.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fort Wayne, IN → Hickory, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.6%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$561/yr.
83 Strong offer
Hickory, NC → Fort Wayne, IN
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.4%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$561/yr.
55 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Fort Wayne, IN is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Hickory, NC is in Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC. The last column shows what a transfer from Fort Wayne, IN to Hickory, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fort Wayne, IN | Hickory, NC | Real change, Fort Wayne → Hickory |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $63,098 | +6.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $76,343 | +7.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $91,503 | +6.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $108,810 | +7.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $128,581 | +7.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fort Wayne, IN | Hickory, NC | Hickory pay in Fort Wayne dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,800 | $49,540 | $51,828 (−13.3%) |
| Software Developers | $101,560 | $122,540 | $128,199 (+26.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,250 | $77,490 | $81,068 (+7.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,630 | $80,060 | $83,757 (+5.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.