Hickory, North Carolina Income Statistics
Hickory Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
Hickory Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Hickory | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $56,601 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,374 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.8% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.1% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.8% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Hickory is about 22% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Hickory (4.8%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Hickory earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Hickory, North Carolina grew by 55.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $56,601 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Hickory
| Metric | Hickory | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.549 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,621 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,869 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 12.4% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Hickory, it is 0.549, about the same as North Carolina's 0.547, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 14% more than women's income in Hickory, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 14% wage gap accumulates to roughly $236,320 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Hickory, North Carolina has widened from about 11% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 20% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,262 since 2009.
Against the trend: the pay gap in Hickory widened by 1.8 points while North Carolina's narrowed by 3.0 points.
Employment
| Metric | Hickory | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.3% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 654 people are unemployed in Hickory, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Hickory is 17 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Hickory, North Carolina has fallen from 9.8% to 3.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.9% in 2013.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Hickory, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than North Carolina, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Hickory, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Hickory, North Carolina?
Hickory has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $56,601, about 22% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
Are incomes growing in Hickory, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Hickory, North Carolina rose 55%, from $36,405 to $56,601. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +55% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Hickory in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Hickory, North Carolina was $56,259, up 4% from $54,210 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Hickory in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Hickory, North Carolina was $45,699. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $56,601.
How strong is the job market in Hickory, North Carolina?
Unemployment in Hickory, North Carolina is only 3.4%, well below the North Carolina rate of 4.6%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Hickory, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Hickory is 0.549. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Hickory, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Hickory, North Carolina has widened from about 11% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 20% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,262 since 2009.
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