City

Hickory, NC

3 ZIP codes  ·  Catawba County  ·  North Carolina

👥82,112Population
💰$63,629Median HH Income▼ 17% below avg
🎂40.5Median Age
🏠$216,207Median Home Value▼ 22% below avg
🎓42.7%College Grads▲ 10% above avg
📊3.9%Unemployment▼ 21% below avg
People & Population (ACS 2023 — weighted avg)
♂ Male 50.2% Female 49.8% ♀

Race & Ethnicity

White: 71.9%Hispanic: 9.5%Black: 9.4%Asian: 4.9%Other: 4.1%Race
White71.9%
Hispanic9.5%
Black9.4%
Asian4.9%
Other4.1%

Age Breakdown

Under 5
5%
5–17
16%
18–24
10%
25–44
24%
45–64
27%
65+
8%

Key Indicators

Median Age40.5 yrs
Avg HH Size2.45
Below Poverty13.7% ▲ 37% above avg
College Grads42.7% ▲ 10% above avg
Unemployment3.9% ▼ 21% below avg
No HS Diploma853 (1.6%)
HS Graduate13,720 (26.5%)
Some College6,479 (12.5%)
Associates8,584 (16.6%)
Bachelors6,431 (12.4%)
Graduate Degree15,640 (30.2%)

Education

No HS: 1.6%HS Grad: 26.5%Some College: 12.5%Associates: 16.6%Bachelors: 12.4%Graduate: 30.2%Edu
No HS1.6%
HS Grad26.5%
Some College12.5%
Associates16.6%
Bachelors12.4%
Graduate30.2%
Housing & Income

Housing Tenure

Owner: 67.5%Renter: 32.5%Tenure
Owner67.5%
Renter32.5%

Home Value Distribution

Under $50k
5%
$50k–$100k
7%
$100k–$150k
16%
$150k–$200k
15%
$200k–$300k
27%
$300k–$500k
21%
Over $500k
9%

Financials

Median HH Income$63,629 ▼ 17% below avg
Median Home Value$216,207 ▼ 22% below avg
Home/Income Ratio3.4x (nat avg ~3.5x)
Median Rent$908/mo
Total Housing Units36,341
Vacant Units3,562

Income Distribution

Under $25k
19%
$25k–$50k
19%
$50k–$75k
19%
$75k–$100k
12%
$100k–$150k
16%
$150k–$200k
8%
Over $200k
7%
Employment & Commute

How People Get to Work

Drove Alone
90%
Public Transit
0%
Walked
1%
Work From Home
9%

Commute Time

Under 15 min
34%
15–30 min
44%
30–45 min
13%
Over 45 min
9%
Housing Stock

Year Built

Before 1940
3%
1940s–1950s
12%
1960s–1970s
15%
1980s–1990s
16%
2000+
54%
About Hickory, NC

Hickory is a city in North Carolina, located in Catawba County. The city spans 3 ZIP codes and is home to approximately 82,112 residents. It is a middle-aged city, with a median age of 40.45 years.

Economically, Hickory is a solidly middle-class community. The median household income of $63,629 is below the national average. Approximately 13.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 3.9%, below the national average.

The real estate market in Hickory is an affordable housing market. Median home values stand at $216,207, which is below the national average. Renters typically pay around $907 per month. Homeownership is high at 67.5%, typical of suburban and family-oriented communities.

The population of Hickory is well-educated. 42.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — near the national average. The community is primarily White (71.93%).

Hickory, NC offers residents a cost-conscious lifestyle within North Carolina. Spread across 3 ZIP codes, the city's neighborhoods vary in character, density, and demographics — explore each ZIP code below for a detailed breakdown.

ZIP Codes in Hickory
ZIPPopulationMedian IncomeMedian HomeMedian RentUnemp.CollegeOwner Occ.
28601 52,839 $67,839 $236,100 $951 4.0% 48.2% 68.1%
28602 29,273 $56,031 $180,300 $830 3.6% 32.7% 66.2%