Signals
Hickory
Newton
Opportunity
46 · Bottom 28%
vs45 · Bottom 26%
Climate
78 · Top 21%
vs78 · Top 21%
Physical resilience
66 · Top 42%
vs74 · Top 32%
Housing affordability
81 · Top 49%
vs93 · Top 25%
Schools
59 · Top 40%
vs60 · Top 40%
Access
79 · Bottom 21%
vs83 · Bottom 26%
Economic stability
41 · Bottom 18%
vs50 · Bottom 31%
Measured values
| Metric | Hickory | Newton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 44,258 | 13,333 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $64,576 | $62,015 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,101 | $31,528 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,370/sq mi | 966/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $278,400 | $186,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,063 | $1,091 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 55.0% | 72.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 3.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.9% | -2.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.1% | 21.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.1% | 12.0% | 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 | 35 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 24.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.5 | 38.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 17 | 9 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 18.19 | 17.37 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 48.3% | 55.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 49.0% | 45.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 97.2% | 76.1% | 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.
Newton
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, earthquake.
Full profiles: Hickory, NC · Newton, NC · How this is calculated: methodology