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METRO AREA

Hickory Metro

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC · 4 counties · 376,890 residents (2025 est.) · 1,639.484 sq mi
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The short version

Hickory has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $62,904. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $214,456.

At a glance
Lower income
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
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
368,316
+8%since 2000
from 341,851 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
225 / sq mi
+8%since 2000
from 209 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.7
+19%since 2000
from 36.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:376,890 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
285K308K330K353K376K1990201020202024Hickory
2024368K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$62,904
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,988 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,781
+86%since 2000
from $18,723 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
41.6%
+21.4 ptssince 2009
from 20.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.5%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 9.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.448
+2%since 2010
from 0.441 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade23.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$214,456
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $85,990 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$877
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $479 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 74.3% in 2000
26.1% rent
Vacancy rate
10.5%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.2%
−7.0 ptssince 2009
from 22.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
34.8%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 39.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+51%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
65
RELATED:See current rent listings in Hickory on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic85.7%(292,922)
Black6.9%(23,441)
Hispanic / Latino4%(13,834)
Asian2.3%(7,841)
Other0%
Diversity Score30.3%(103,450)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic77.9%(286,879)
Black6.2%(22,920)
Hispanic / Latino9.1%(33,655)
Asian2.9%(10,816)
Other3.8%(14,046)
Diversity Score47.3%(174,391)
Segregation Score31.1%(114,394)
Diversity Score
47
+56%since 2000
from 30 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
31
−7%since 2020
from 33 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.4%
+8.7 ptssince 2000
from 13.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.7%
+16.3 ptssince 2000
from 70.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.1%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.1 min
+81%since 2000
from 13.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.6%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 84.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.1%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.3%
−6.1 ptssince 2011
from 10.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.9%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 61.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.1%
−24.5 ptssince 2009
from 57.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
50.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
5.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.5%
−42.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2012
from 15.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.4%
−73.3 ptssince 2013
from 83.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.8%
+15.9 ptssince 2017
from 70.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
90.2%
−1.1 ptssince 2016
from 91.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.7%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 5.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

HickoryCENTRAL45,975LenoirCENTRAL18,372MorgantonCENTRAL17,849
What's inside

4 component counties

Catawba CountyCENTRAL170,172Burke CountyCENTRAL88,655Caldwell CountyCENTRAL81,105Alexander County36,958
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Hickory

Lubbock
Pop 368,431
Flint
Pop 401,093
Fayetteville
Pop 395,412
Gainesville
Pop 359,036
Places similar to Hickory
Head to head

Compare Hickory side by side

HICKORY VS
Lubbock
Income$63,691+1%
Home value$202,881−5%
Population368,431−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HICKORY VS
Flint
Income$62,281−1%
Home value$182,400−15%
Population401,093+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HICKORY VS
Fayetteville
Income$61,788−2%
Home value$201,958−6%
Population395,412+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HICKORY VS
Gainesville
Income$61,360−2%
Home value$271,225+26%
Population359,036−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

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.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →