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Everything You Should Know Before Moving to Hickory, NC

Thinking of moving to Hickory, NC? With a friendly community of 43,532 residents, Hickory offers affordable living—median home prices are around $215,000 and average rents about $1,090. Residents enjoy short average commutes of 20.6 minutes and a mild climate with 63% sunny days per year. The city features reputable schools, two major hospitals, and a reasonable cost of living index of 85.4, making it a great choice for families and professionals alike. Explore more about Hickory’s cost of living, schools, and lifestyle below to help plan your move.

Demographics - Hickory, NC

Demographics - Hickory, NC

Hickory is home to about 43,500 residents, with a median age of just over 40, creating a balanced atmosphere for families and individuals alike. The city is predominantly White (74.8%), but also includes Black, Asian, and other communities, and nearly 10% of residents speak a language other than English at home.

demograph population
Population:
43,532
demograph density
Density:
1,300 per sq mi
demograph median age
Median Age:
40.2
Demograph Gender Ratio
Gender Ratio:
95 males per 100 females
demograph Non English Speakers Percentage
Non-English Speakers Percentage:
9.3%
demograph ethnicCompositionEthnic Composition
demograph whites
White:
74.8%
demograph blacks
Black:
12.5%
demograph asian
Asian:
4.5%
demograph others
Others:
8.2%
People moving
People moving

Cost Of Living

Cost Of Living

What is the average cost of living in Hickory, NC?

Living in Hickory is notably affordable, with a cost of living index of 85.4—well below the national average. Median home values are around $215,000, rents average $1,090 per month, and local taxes are relatively low, making it attractive for both renters and homeowners.

cost of living medianHouseValue
Median House Value:
$215,000
cost of living grossRent
Gross Rent:
$1,090
cost of living monthlyElectricityCharges
Monthly Electricity Charges:
$120
cost of living autoInsurance
Auto Insurance:
$1,010
cost of living houseownerCostWithMortgage
House Owner Cost With Mortgage:
$1,350
cost of living houseownerCostWithoutMortgage
House Owner Cost Without Mortgage:
$480
cost of living stateTaxes State Taxes:
Low:
4.75%
|
High:
4.75%
cost of living costOfLivingIndex
Cost Of Living Index:
85.4
cost of living grocery
Grocery:
95.2
cost of living housing
Housing:
72.7
cost of living utilities
Utilities:
99.1
cost of living transportation
Transportation:
86.4
cost of living health-care
Health Care:
98.6
cost of living miscellaneous
Miscellaneous:
92.1

Crime

Crime

Is Hickory, NC a safe place to live?

Hickory experiences moderate crime rates, with about 330 violent crimes and 2,150 property crimes per 100,000 residents annually. While the chance of violent crime is roughly 1 in 303, most residents find the city to offer a safe and welcoming environment.

crime voilentCrimes
Violent Crimes Per 100k:
330
crime propertyCrime
Property Crimes Per 100k:
2,150
crime crimeIndex
Crime Index:
2,480
crime chanceOfViolentCrime
Chance Of Violent Crime:
1 in 303
crime chanceOfPropertyCrime
Chance Of Property Crime:
1 in 46
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People moving

Weather

Weather

What is the weather like in Hickory, NC year-round?

Residents enjoy a mild four-season climate, with winter lows averaging 28°F and summer highs reaching near 89°F. Hickory receives about 47 inches of rainfall per year and enjoys sunshine about 63% of the time, making it pleasant for outdoor activities year-round.

weather winterWinter
weather min
Min:
28°F
weather max
Max:
48°F
weather springSpring
weather min
Min:
45°F
weather max
Max:
72°F
weather summerSummer
weather min
Min:
65°F
weather max
Max:
89°F
weather fallFall
weather min
Min:
48°F
weather max
Max:
73°F
weather averageRainfallInches
Average Rainfall Inches:
46.8 inches
weather sunnyDays Percentage
Sunny Days Percentage:
63%

Neighbors

Neighbors

The typical household brings in around $54,250 annually, with a median income of $32,400 and a poverty rate of 16.3%. Education levels are solid, as nearly 88% of adults have a high school diploma or higher, and average commute times are about 21 minutes, offering a comfortable suburban lifestyle.

neighbor medianIncome
Median Income:
$32,400
neighbor householdIncome
Household Income:
$54,250
neighbor familyIncome
Family Income:
$66,900
neighbor perCapitaIncome
Per Capita Income:
$28,100
neighbor incomeMale
Income Male:
$43,200
neighbor incomeFemale
Income Female:
$34,500
neighbor povertyRate
Poverty Rate:
16.3%
neighbor nonEnglishSpeakers
Non English Speakers:
9.3%
neighbor rent
Rent:
$1,090
neighbor unemployment
Unemployment Rate:
4.2%
neighbor publicTransport
Public Transport Usage:
0.8%
neighbor commuteTime
Commute Time:
20.6 minutes
neighbor educationEducation
neighbor highSchool
High School or Higher:
87.6%
neighbor bachelors
Bachelors or More:
28.1%
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People moving

Education

Education

How are the schools in Hickory, NC?

Hickory offers a range of educational opportunities, from public schools like Hickory High and Viewmont Elementary to private options such as Hickory Christian Academy. Higher education is also accessible with Catawba Valley Community College and Lenoir-Rhyne University located right in town.

education PublicSchoolsPublic Schools
education publicName
Name:
Hickory High School
education publicStreet
Street:
1234 3rd St NE
education publicPhone
Phone:
828-328-6711
education publicStudents
Students:
1,050
education publicStudentTeacherRatio
Student Teacher Ratio:
15.2


education publicName
Name:
Viewmont Elementary School
education publicStreet
Street:
909 8th St NE
education publicPhone
Phone:
828-322-4451
education publicStudents
Students:
530
education publicStudentTeacherRatio
Student Teacher Ratio:
13.4


education privateSchoolsPrivate Schools
education privateName
Name:
Hickory Christian Academy
education privateStreet
Street:
3260 6th St Dr NW
education privatePhone
Phone:
828-324-5405
education privateStudents
Students:
480


education collegesColleges
education collegeName
Name:
Catawba Valley Community College
education collegeCity
City:
Hickory
education collegeState
State:
NC
education collegeDistance
Distance:
0 miles
education collegeStudents
Students:
4,300


education collegeName
Name:
Lenoir-Rhyne University
education collegeCity
City:
Hickory
education collegeState
State:
NC
education collegeDistance
Distance:
0 miles
education collegeStudents
Students:
2,700


Healthcare

Healthcare

Hickory residents have access to comprehensive healthcare, including two major hospitals—Catawba Valley Medical Center and Frye Regional Medical Center—both offering emergency services. With 2.2 physicians per 1,000 people and nearly 90% health insurance coverage, the city provides reliable medical care.

healthcare majorHospitals Major Hospitals
healthcare hospitalName
Name:
Catawba Valley Medical Center
healthcare hospitalAddress
Address:
810 Fairgrove Church Rd SE, Hickory, NC 28602
healthcare hospitalPhone
Phone:
(828) 326-3000
healthcare hospitalType
Type:
General & Surgical
healthcare emergencyServices
Emergency Services:
Yes


healthcare hospitalName
Name:
Frye Regional Medical Center
healthcare hospitalAddress
Address:
420 N Center St, Hickory, NC 28601
healthcare hospitalPhone
Phone:
(828) 315-5000
healthcare hospitalType
Type:
General & Surgical
healthcare emergencyServices
Emergency Services:
Yes


healthcare physiciansPer1000
Physicians Per 1000:
2.2
healthcare healthInsuranceCoverage
Health Insurance Coverage:
89.5%
healthcare healthCareIndex
Health Care Index:
77.2
Healthcare
Housing Market

Housing Market

Housing Market

What is the housing market like in Hickory, NC?

Hickory's housing market is affordable and stable, with a median home price of $215,000 and a homeownership rate of nearly 58%. The market has seen a 6.2% appreciation over the last year, and rental options remain accessible with average two-bedroom rents at $1,090.

housing market medianHomePrice
Median Home Price:
$215,000
housing market averageRentFor2Bedroom
Average Rent For 2 Bedroom:
$1,090
housing market ownerOccupiedRate
Owner Occupied Rate:
57.6%
housing market rentalVacancyRate
Rental Vacancy Rate:
7.7%
housing market homeAppreciationRate1Yr
Home Appreciation Rate (1yr):
6.2%
housing market newConstructionRate
New Construction Rate:
1.5%
housing market foreclosureRate
Foreclosure Rate:
0.7%

DMV Information

DMV Information

Local DMV services are provided by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles at 1465 29th Avenue Dr NE in Hickory, making it convenient for residents to handle licensing, registration, and other vehicle-related needs.

dmv state
State:
North Carolina
dmv department
Department:
North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles
dmv address
Address:
1465 29th Avenue Dr NE, Hickory, NC 28601
dmv phone
Phone:
1-919-715-7000
DMV

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is based on publicly available sources including AccuWeather, U.S. Census Bureau, local government data, and third-party partners such as Neustar. While we strive to ensure accuracy, all data is provided “as is” and should be independently verified before making any decisions. Movers.com makes no guarantees regarding the completeness or reliability of the information.

Top Movers in Hickory, NC

Planning a relocation in or near Hickory? We have you covered. Whether you're moving across a street or across town, our dependable network of local movers is ready to handle every aspect of your relocation. Find expert movers who will make your move as seamless, efficient, and stress-free as possible, from packing and loading to transporting and unpacking. Explore specialty moving services, compare estimates, and contact a reputable moving company in Hickory.

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FAQs About Moving to Hickory, NC

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Check the cost of living, housing, traffic, and public transit in Hickory. Each neighborhood has its own vibe, so pick one that fits your lifestyle. Be prepared for Hickory climate and weather.

Moving within Hickory usually costs between $300 and $1,500. Moving long distances can cost anywhere from $2,000 to more than $5,000. The price may go up if you need extra services like packing or storage. Fill out Movers.com quote form to compare the quotes easily.

While moves happen year-round, spring and fall are often more comfortable in Hickory. Booking outside of peak summer or winter seasons can save money and make scheduling easier.

Yes! Majority of moving companies in Hickory offer full service moving, which means they will help you pack, unpack, and arrange your belongings.

You should plan your move from Hickory at least 4 to 8 weeks in advance, especially if you're moving during the busy season (summer). You can get better availability, prices, and flexibility with your moving date if you book early. If you book at the last minute, you may have fewer choices or pay more.
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