Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Fayetteville
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton
Opportunity
30 · Bottom 7%
vs40 · Bottom 20%
Growth
37 · Bottom 30%
vs65 · Top 27%
Climate
73 · Top 28%
vs78 · Top 8%
Physical resilience
50 · Bottom 43%
vs57 · Top 48%
Housing affordability
84 · Bottom 25%
vs95 · Top 48%
Access
68 · Bottom 34%
vs73 · Bottom 44%
Economic stability
53 · Top 48%
vs49 · Bottom 47%
Measured values
| Metric | Fayetteville | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 392,380 | 368,316 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $61,763 | $62,787 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,646 | $34,781 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 376/sq mi | 225/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $202,700 | $215,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,212 | $869 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 57.3% | 73.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 3.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.7% | -3.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.2% | 22.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.8% | 13.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,326 | 3,504 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.4 | 9.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -38.7% | 18.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 34°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.6" | 47.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 59 mi | 50 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 25.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.3 | 43.5 | 2024 ACS 5-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
Fayetteville
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Fayetteville
56
Your Score
53
Area Score
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton
65
Your Score
63
Area Score
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Full profiles: Fayetteville, NC Metro Area · Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology