Signals
28601
28602
Opportunity
46 · Bottom 31%
vs39 · Bottom 19%
Climate
78 · Top 21%
vs78 · Top 21%
Physical resilience
64 · Top 43%
vs69 · Top 38%
Housing affordability
90 · Top 32%
vs95 · Top 20%
Schools
60 · Top 38%
vs67 · Top 30%
Access
77 · Bottom 18%
vs80 · Bottom 21%
Economic stability
47 · Bottom 29%
vs45 · Bottom 26%
Measured values
| Metric | 28601 | 28602 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 53,329 | 31,113 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $67,817 | $62,048 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $40,441 | $32,255 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,133/sq mi | 440/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $261,600 | $212,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,029 | $896 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.4% | 62.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.9% | -2.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.1% | 20.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.4% | 16.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 87°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 47.1" | 47.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 44 mi | 40 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 23.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.2 | 40.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 12 | 5 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 18.36 | 17.63 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 47.2% | 51.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 48.2% | 51.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 99.5% | 89.9% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
28601
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
28602
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Full profiles: 28601 — Hickory, NC · 28602 — Hickory, NC · How this is calculated: methodology