Winston-Salem 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
Winston-Salem
Opportunity
40 · Bottom 20%
vs54 · Bottom 47%
Growth
65 · Top 27%
vs62 · Top 30%
Climate
78 · Top 8%
vs78 · Top 7%
Physical resilience
57 · Top 48%
vs57 · Top 48%
Housing affordability
95 · Top 48%
vs93 · Bottom 45%
Access
73 · Bottom 44%
vs89 · Top 27%
Economic stability
49 · Bottom 47%
vs55 · Top 44%
Measured values
| Metric | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | Winston-Salem | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 368,316 | 689,766 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $62,787 | $65,975 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,781 | $37,543 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 225/sq mi | 343/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $215,600 | $233,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $869 | $1,016 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 73.8% | 69.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 3.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.0% | -1.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.3% | 30.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.5% | 13.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 3,504 | 4,629 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 9.5 | 6.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 18.2% | -3.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 47.1" | 43.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 50 mi | 23 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 25.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.5 | 40.7 | 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.
Winston-Salem
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
Winston-Salem
70
Your Score
67
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metro Area · Winston-Salem, NC Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology