Area data
Hickory, NC — ZIP 28602
Population: 31,113 (Census ACS)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $254,384
- 1-year appreciation
- +2.0%
- 3-year appreciation
- +10.1%
- 5-year appreciation
- +32.5%
- 10-year appreciation
- +120.3%
- All-time peak (2026-04)
- $256,020
- House Price Index
- 438.2 (+1.0% YoY)
Market activity
- Median sale price
- $462,500
- Median list price
- $405,500
- Median days on market
- 41 days
- Sale-to-list ratio
- 98.6%
- Active listings
- 3
- 1-year forecast
- +1.9%
- New listings (monthly)
- 24
Rents
- Typical rent
- $1,564/mo
- 1-year rent change
- +3.8%
- 1BR fair-market rent
- $1,135/mo
- 3BR fair-market rent
- $1,700/mo
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Below Average)
- 92.5 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 14.0¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $16.40/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Schools
- Total schools
- 5
- Elementary schools
- 3
- Middle schools
- 1
- High schools
- 1
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk
- Relatively Low
- Top hazards
- iceStorm, lightning, inlandFlooding, strongWind, tornado
- FEMA flood zone
- X
- Flood risk level
- Minimal
Climate (30-year normals)
- Average annual temperature
- 60.0°F
- Average high
- 70.0°F
- Average low
- 49.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 48.1 in
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Good
- Median AQI (annual)
- 43
- Days with Good air quality
- 212
Walkability & transit
- Walkability index
- 7.5 / 20
- Transit service frequency
- -99,999
Amenities
- National parks within ~60 mi
- 3
- Nearest national park
- Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (37 mi)
- Nearest airport
- Wilson's Airport (2 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Hickory Regional Airport (HKY) (5 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 1
- Avg hospital rating
- 3.0 / 5
- Solar radiation rating
- Fair (4.5 kWh/m²/day)
Migration
- Net migration
- +828 tax filers
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 1,982
- Median annual property tax
- $1,252
- Mean commute to work
- 20 min
- Households with broadband internet
- 73.6%
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 80,687
- Average weekly wage
- $1,040
- Top industries (by employment)
- Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Administrative Services
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 1,651
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Aug 2026. See all data sources →