Home › NC › Hickory, NC Cost of living in Hickory, NC Livability score 73 · cost-of-living index 89.4 (US = 100)
How Hickory compares Where Hickory falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 89 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 89 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $272k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $272k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $136 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $136 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.69% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.69% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 400 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 400 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 16.3 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 16.3 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 89° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 89° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 30° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 30° Map of Hickory Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 89.4 metro-area #22 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 96.8 metro-area #106 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.09 metro-area #22 of 200 Median household income $57,943 metro-area #184 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $36,275 metro-area #158 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 43.4 years metro-area #181 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 21.4% metro-area #190 of 200 Foreign-born residents 5.3% metro-area #158 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 74.4% metro-area #13 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 5.52% metro-area #131 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +0.5% metro-area #156 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $271,739 metro-area #58 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.7× metro-area #96 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +2.3% metro-area #79 of 200 Price per square foot $136 metro-area #51 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,000 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,496 metro-area #76 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 1,386 Median days on market 26 metro-area #143 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.9% state #88 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.98% state #55 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 4.25% Capital gains tax 4.25% state #78 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.69% metro-area #50 of 200 Median property tax paid $1,186 metro-area #19 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 73.7 years metro-area #176 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,600 state #65 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 12.6% metro-area #160 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 56 metro-area #178 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $10,000 state #58 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $130 state #107 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 1.10% of value (~$308/yr) state #146 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 24 min metro-area #92 of 200 Commute by driving alone 81.9% metro-area #192 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 29.6% metro-area #78 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 16.3¢/kWh state #72 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $146 state #72 of 200 Gasoline $3.20/gal state #63 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $62 state #69 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $78 state #36 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $80 state #106 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,000 state #110 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,400 state #18 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 71.7 — Relatively Low metro-area #10 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $800 state #120 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 46 metro-area #100 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,600 metro-area #119 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 91% state #115 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 3,400 metro-area #85 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 27 metro-area #98 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 89°F metro-area #113 of 200 Avg winter low 30°F metro-area #89 of 200 Annual precipitation 43.6" metro-area #101 of 200 Annual snowfall 5.2" metro-area #89 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 58% metro-area #105 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 7b Frost window 04-01 → 11-10
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 400 state #100 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,200 state #98 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 120 metro-area #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 state #87 of 200 Permit detail Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Salaries by occupation in Hickory Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $188,350 Marketing Managers $135,970 Financial Managers $132,860 Pharmacists $131,370 Software Developers $121,020 Physician Assistants $119,300 Human Resources Managers $113,100 Lawyers $99,390 Physical Therapists $99,100 General & Operations Managers $98,150 Construction Managers $91,940 Mechanical Engineers $91,200 Data Scientists $87,580 Civil Engineers $83,400 Dental Hygienists $80,270 Accountants & Auditors $74,180 Registered Nurses $71,180 Real Estate Sales Agents $50,820 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $50,600 Elementary School Teachers $50,170 Graphic Designers $49,980 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $49,370 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $49,350 Electricians $48,070 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $45,820 Carpenters $43,490 Medical Assistants $38,410
Cities in the Hickory area
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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