Hickory, NC Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Hickory, NC Summary

Cost of living in Hickory research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Hickory is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in North Carolina, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Hickory is 99, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Hickory is 1.0x lower than the national average.

  • Hickory ranks as the #80 cheapest in North Carolina out of 157.

  • Hickory ranks as the #2,497 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Hickory is $289,460.

  • The median income in Hickory is $63,361.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
99
Hickory's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Hickory, NC?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Hickory has an overall cost of living index of 99, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to North Carolina, Hickory has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than North Carolina's index of 92.

The standard of living in Hickory ranks as #80 most affordable out of the 157 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Hickory ranks as the #77 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.

For more reading on life in Hickory, check out:

80 out of 157
In North Carolina
2,497 out of 6,489
In America

Hickory Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Hickory. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Hickory is 104.

  • The Groceries index in Hickory is 100.

  • The Health index in Hickory is 112.

  • The Housing index in Hickory is 97.

  • The Transportation index in Hickory is 92.

  • The Utilities index in Hickory is 90.

Living Expense Hickory North Carolina National Average
Overall 99 92 100
Services 104 100 100
Groceries 100 99 100
Health 112 106 100
Housing 97 86 100
Transportation 92 93 100
Utilities 90 95 100
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
Hickory Cost of Living Vs. NC

Hickory, NC Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Carolina, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Hickory is $289,460.

  • The Median Rent in Hickory is $975.

  • The Median Income in Hickory is $63,361.

  • The Home Value To Income in Hickory is 4.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Hickory is 0.18x.

Statistic Hickory North Carolina United States
Median Home Value $289,460 $332,681 $303,400
Median Rent $975 $1,162 $1,348
Median Income $63,361 $69,904 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.6x 4.8x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.18x 0.2x 0.21x
$289,460
Median Home Value
$975
Median Rent
$63,361
Median Income

Hickory, NC Costs By Category

Detailed Hickory Services Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Hickory North Carolina
Shampoo $1.27 $1.28
Movie $13.55 $12.13
Bowling $21.67 $18
Haircut $18.25 $24.26
Beauty Salon $59.75 $45.56

Detailed Hickory Groceries Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Hickory North Carolina
Ground Beef $6.27 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.39 $1.57
Milk $4.61 $4.67
Potatoes $4.98 $4.93
Pizza $10.96 $12.09
Beer $10.47 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.81 $3.7

Detailed Hickory Health Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Hickory North Carolina
Optometrist $143.74 $125.68
Doctor $148.29 $135.78
Dentist $115.52 $113.29

Detailed Hickory Transportation Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Hickory North Carolina
Gasoline $3.29 $3.46
Tire Balancing $53.32 $59.92

Detailed Hickory Utilities Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Hickory North Carolina
All Electricity $167.89 $193.99
Phone $189.9 $192.25

Hickory SnackAbility

4
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
7
Affordability
6
Diversity
8.5
Safety
3
Amenities
8.5
Education
8
Commute
8.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Hickory

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Hickory. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Lenoir, NC has a cost of living index of 85, 0.9x Hickory.

  • Newton, NC has a cost of living index of 90, 0.9x Hickory.

  • Lincolnton, NC has a cost of living index of 94, 0.9x Hickory.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Hickory
Lenoir, NC 18,282 85 0.9x
Newton, NC 13,223 90 0.9x
Lincolnton, NC 11,503 94 0.9x
St. Stephens, NC 9,409 90 0.9x
Conover, NC 8,491 92 0.9x
Sawmills, NC 5,027 90 0.9x

Articles About North Carolina

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