The Town FilesHickory, North Carolina
City in Catawba County · population 43,490 (2020 Census) · spans 3 counties
- Median home
- $278,400
- Household income
- $64,576
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 37.5
Hickory is a city of 43,490 people in Catawba County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $278,400, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 93% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 90% of North Carolina towns.
How Hickory ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hickory is worth $278,400, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $64,576, which is more affordable than 32% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,063 a month. 55.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hickory | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $278,400 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,063 | $969 |
| Median household income | $64,576 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 55.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Hickory
| People | Hickory | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.1% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.9% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 21.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in Hickory
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 30.2°F. About 47.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hickory since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 7, 1998 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 7, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 91 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 3, 1998.
Severe weather in Catawba County since 1996
Catawba County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Catawba County
Catawba County had 89,388 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,761 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Hickory itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Hickory
17 public schools with 8,719 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Stephens High | 9-12 | 1,298 | 19.4 |
| Hickory High | 9-12 | 1,034 | 18.1 |
| Mountain View Elementary | K-6 | 713 | 15.8 |
| Harry M Arndt Middle | 7-8 | 628 | 17.9 |
| Snow Creek Elementary | PK-6 | 569 | 15.0 |
| Clyde Campbell Elementary | PK-6 | 501 | 14.3 |
| Viewmont Elementary | PK-5 | 489 | 14.8 |
| Northview Middle | 6-8 | 458 | 15.8 |
| Ray Childers Elementary | PK-5 | 447 | 14.9 |
| Grandview Middle | 6-8 | 393 | 16.4 |
| Webb A Murray Elementary | PK-6 | 384 | 14.2 |
| Challenger Early College High | 9-12 | 362 | 24.1 |
Towns near Hickory
- St. Stephens, NC3.4 mi · 8,852 people · home $213,300
- Long View, NC3.6 mi · 5,088 people · home $157,300
- Northlakes, NC3.9 mi · 1,543 people · home $366,500
- Mountain View, NC4.6 mi · 3,590 people · home $222,500
- Hildebran, NC5.7 mi · 1,679 people · home $193,900
- Bethlehem, NC5.7 mi · 4,491 people · home $327,000
- Conover, NC6.2 mi · 8,421 people · home $271,300
- Rhodhiss, NC6.4 mi · 997 people · home $134,700
Hickory questions
Is Hickory, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hickory scores better for retirees than 34% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 9%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Hickory?
The median owner-occupied home in Hickory is valued at $278,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,576, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,063 a month.
What is the weather like in Hickory?
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 30.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Hickory get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hickory since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 7, 1998. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)