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
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton
Florence-Muscle Shoals
Opportunity
40 · Bottom 20%
vs42 · Bottom 22%
Growth
65 · Top 27%
vs60 · Top 34%
Climate
78 · Top 8%
vs77 · Top 11%
Physical resilience
57 · Top 48%
vs53 · Bottom 47%
Housing affordability
95 · Top 48%
vs100 · Top 29%
Access
73 · Bottom 44%
vs62 · Bottom 25%
Economic stability
49 · Bottom 47%
vs41 · Bottom 36%
Measured values
| Metric | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | Florence-Muscle Shoals | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 368,316 | 153,852 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $62,787 | $61,891 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,781 | $35,173 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 225/sq mi | 122/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $215,600 | $187,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $869 | $853 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 73.8% | 69.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.0% | -1.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.3% | 26.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.5% | 14.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 3,504 | 370 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 9.5 | 2.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 18.2% | 21.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 47.1" | 57.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 50 mi | 55 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 26.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.5 | 41.6 | 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
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Florence-Muscle Shoals
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton
65
Your Score
63
Area Score
Florence-Muscle Shoals
62
Your Score
62
Area Score
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Full profiles: Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metro Area · Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology