Signals
Morganton
Hickory
Opportunity
42 · Bottom 21%
vs46 · Bottom 28%
Climate
78 · Top 21%
vs78 · Top 21%
Physical resilience
48 · Bottom 40%
vs66 · Top 42%
Housing affordability
76 · Bottom 42%
vs81 · Top 49%
Schools
48 · Bottom 46%
vs59 · Top 40%
Access
72 · Bottom 14%
vs79 · Bottom 21%
Economic stability
32 · Bottom 9%
vs41 · Bottom 18%
Measured values
| Metric | Morganton | Hickory | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,646 | 44,258 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $51,355 | $64,576 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,317 | $38,101 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 918/sq mi | 1,370/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $221,700 | $278,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $944 | $1,063 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 54.7% | 55.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.1% | -2.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.1% | 37.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 25.7% | 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 | 52 mi | 42 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 19.7 min | 22.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.8 | 37.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 17 | 17 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.44 | 18.19 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 40.1% | 48.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 43.3% | 49.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 93.8% | 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
Morganton
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, lightning.
Hickory
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Full profiles: Morganton, NC · Hickory, NC · How this is calculated: methodology