Hickory is home to 368,316 people. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 22% of adults. The median age is 43.7, about 5 years above the US median. The typical home is worth $214,456, having more than doubled since 2000. 74% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 5%.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $62,904, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 37%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Hickory
What changed most since 1990
Poverty rate9.0% → 13.5%(+4.5 pts)US over the same years: −0.8 pts
Median age34.6 → 43.7(+9.1 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
Among the 38 metro and micro areas based in North Carolina
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)22.6%(4,344)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)17%(3,261)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era40.2%(7,715)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.1%(784)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.7%(125)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 19,180 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Hickory, decade by decade
Hickory population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
292,409
$65,406
$135,715
11.4%
19.6
2000
341,851
$69,201
$156,645
13.7%
32.3
2010
365,497
$57,743
$170,510
15.9%
38.4
2020
365,276
$60,449
$168,588
19.1%
48.1
2024
368,316
$62,904
$214,456
22.4%
46.8
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
How many people live in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC has about 368,316 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The typical household in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC earns about $62,904 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC expensive?
In Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC, the median home is worth about $214,456, and the typical rent is about $877 a month.
How educated are people in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
About 22.4% of adults age 25 and over in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
About 13.5% of people in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC live below the federal poverty line.
Has Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC grown since 1990?
Yes, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 75,907 residents, a change of about 26 percent over that period.
