Signals
Lenoir
Hickory
Opportunity
39 · Bottom 15%
vs46 · Bottom 28%
Climate
78 · Top 21%
vs78 · Top 21%
Physical resilience
43 · Bottom 33%
vs66 · Top 42%
Housing affordability
93 · Top 24%
vs81 · Top 49%
Schools
25 · Bottom 17%
vs59 · Top 40%
Access
69 · Bottom 11%
vs79 · Bottom 21%
Economic stability
37 · Bottom 14%
vs41 · Bottom 18%
Measured values
| Metric | Lenoir | Hickory | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,299 | 44,258 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $49,910 | $64,576 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,565 | $38,101 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 879/sq mi | 1,370/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $179,400 | $278,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $664 | $1,063 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.2% | 55.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.9% | -2.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.2% | 37.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | 17.1% | 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 | 58 mi | 42 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 22.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 45.7 | 37.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 13 | 17 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.33 | 18.19 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 27.4% | 48.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 40.2% | 49.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 98.4% | 97.2% | 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
Lenoir
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Hickory
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Full profiles: Lenoir, NC · Hickory, NC · How this is calculated: methodology