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METRO AREA · 2000 CENSUS

Hickory Metro

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC · 4 counties · 341,851 residents · 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 $37,988. Population has grown 17% since 1990. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 24%. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $85,990.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 36.7
US median: 35.2
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
341,851
+17%since 1990
from 292,409 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
209 / sq mi
+17%since 1990
from 178 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
36.7
+6%since 1990
from 34.6 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
285K308K330K353K376K1990201020202024Hickory
2024368K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$37,988
+6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $27,252 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,723
+50%since 1990
from $12,461 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
9.8%
+0.8 ptssince 1990
from 9.0% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$85,990
+15%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $56,546 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$479
+6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $341 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
74.3%
−0.5 ptssince 1990
from 74.7% in 1990
25.7% rent
Afford Score
2.3
+9%since 1990
from 2.1 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Hickory on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic91.8%(268,443)
Black7.3%(21,337)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(1,374)
Asian0.5%(1,559)
Diversity Score20%(58,383)
2000
White, non-Hispanic85.7%(292,922)
Black6.9%(23,441)
Hispanic / Latino4%(13,834)
Asian2.3%(7,841)
Diversity Score30.3%(103,450)
Diversity Score
30
+52%since 1990
from 20 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.7%
+2.3 ptssince 1990
from 11.4% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
70.4%
+8.5 ptssince 1990
from 61.9% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
4.0%
+0.8 ptssince 1990
from 3.2% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.4 min
−20%since 1990
from 16.7 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

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+68%
Home value$202,881+136%
Population368,431−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HICKORY VS
Flint
Income$62,281+64%
Home value$182,400+112%
Population401,093+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HICKORY VS
Fayetteville
Income$61,788+63%
Home value$201,958+135%
Population395,412+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HICKORY VS
Gainesville
Income$61,360+62%
Home value$271,225+215%
Population359,036−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC has about 341,851 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?

The typical household in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC earns about $37,988 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 $85,990, and the typical rent is about $479 a month.

How educated are people in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?

About 13.7% 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 9.8% 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 49,442 residents, a change of about 17 percent over that period.

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

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