Signals
Hickory
Lenoir
Opportunity
46 · Bottom 28%
vs39 · Bottom 15%
Climate
78 · Top 21%
vs78 · Top 21%
Physical resilience
66 · Top 42%
vs43 · Bottom 33%
Housing affordability
81 · Top 49%
vs93 · Top 24%
Schools
59 · Top 40%
vs25 · Bottom 17%
Access
79 · Bottom 21%
vs69 · Bottom 11%
Economic stability
41 · Bottom 18%
vs37 · Bottom 14%
Measured values
| Metric | Hickory | Lenoir | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 44,258 | 18,299 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $64,576 | $49,910 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,101 | $29,565 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,370/sq mi | 879/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $278,400 | $179,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,063 | $664 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 55.0% | 64.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 3.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.9% | -2.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.1% | 21.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.1% | 14.6% | 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 | 42 mi | 58 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 24.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.5 | 45.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 17 | 13 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 18.19 | 17.33 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 48.3% | 27.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 49.0% | 40.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 97.2% | 98.4% | 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
Hickory
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Lenoir
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Hickory, NC · Lenoir, NC · How this is calculated: methodology