At a Glance
Median Income
$63,361
$36,266 per capita
Home Value
$248,300
Zillow: $289,141
Median Rent
$975/mo
26.2% of income on rent
Violent Crime
402/100K
4,369/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
35.9%
89.8% high school+
Unemployment
2.9%
11.9% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.4%
15.0% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
59°F
310 sunny days/yr
How Hickory Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Hickory's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Hickory a Good Place to Live?
B
3.3 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Hickory residents earn a median household income of $63,361 , which is 16% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $36,266. The unemployment rate stands at 2.9% (19% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 11.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 5,206 business establishments, including 375 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Hickory is $248,300 , 12% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $289,141. Median rent is $975/month, with 26.2% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 94.3 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1982.
Safety & Crime
Hickory reports 402 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 6% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 4,369/100K. The murder rate is 9.8/100K.
Education
35.9% of adults in Hickory hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(7% above the national average).
89.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.8/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Hickory has an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C).
Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 310 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 47.2 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.
Data Overview
People
Population43,747
Median Age37.7 yrs
Density1,355/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans6.9%
Economy
B+
Median Income$63,361
Per Capita$36,266
Unemployment2.9%
Poverty11.9%
County GDP$12,403M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,072
Housing
A
Home Value$248,300
Rent$975
Ownership55.9%
Zillow$289,141
Housing Units19,595
Rent Burden26.2%
Crime
F
Violent402/100K
Property4,369/100K
Murder9.8/100K
Assault258/100K
Burglary573/100K
Health
Obesity38.4%
Diabetes10.7%
Smoking15.0%
Heart Disease5.7%
Premature Death11,084/100K
Climate
Avg Temp59°F
Sunny Days310/yr
Rain47.2 in/yr
AQI40 (Good)
Elevation1,175 ft
Education
B+
Bachelor's+35.9%
High School+89.8%
Graduate+13.3%
School Score5.8/10
Community
2024 VoteR 69% / D 31%
Commute20 min
Broadband87.7%
Internet Speed156 Mbps
EV Stations12
Libraries10
Did You Know?
The median home in Hickory was built in 1982.
The nearest airport is Hickory Regional (4 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.466 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
12.6% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 156 Mbps.
There are 375 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 31 fatal vehicle crashes.
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