Hickory: Demographics & People
About 44,258 people live in Hickory, in 18,042 households. Population grew 1.2% from 43,747 (2022) to 44,258 (2024). Median age 37.5 years. (4.6y younger than Catawba County; 1.3y older than North Carolina). Children under 18 are 21% of the population. Population is 63% White (non-Hispanic) and 15% Hispanic or Latino. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.49). 59% of households are family-led. County is gaining 2,321 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 32% adult obesity, 17% smoke.
- 2.5 people per household (vs North Carolina avg 2.5).
- 41% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs North Carolina 42%).
- 62 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs North Carolina 64).
Population & Trend
Population grew 1.2% from 43,747 (2022) to 44,258 (2024) — about 1.9× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~44,777 (extrapolated at 0.6%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 45,476.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 87,570 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 1.2% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 43,747 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 44,258 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 44,258 people (vs North Carolina 70,630) |
| Population Estimate | 45,476 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 37.5y is 1.4 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 21% — near the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 37.5 years (vs North Carolina 36.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 21.3% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 44,258 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 9,416 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 11,713.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 15,565.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 7,564 |
| Population under 18 | 9,416 |
| Median age | 37.5 years (vs North Carolina 36.2y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 44,258 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.49 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 29,883 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 5,898 |
| Asian residents | 1,817 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 6,070 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 49.2% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 68.4% |
| Asian population | 4.8% (vs North Carolina 3.2%) |
| Black population | 13.0% (vs North Carolina 26.0%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 15.2% (vs North Carolina 12.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 62.6% (vs North Carolina 51.1%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 1.6% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 10% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 26,138 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 13,163 |
| Share born in this state | 59.1% |
| Share born in another state | 40.9% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 29.7% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.6% |
| Naturalized citizens | 9.6% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 3,866 |
| From Europe | 673 |
| From Asia | 13 |
| From Africa | 464 |
Households & Family Composition
18,042 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 59% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 10,484 families, 24% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 9,489 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 10,484 |
| Married couples with children | 2,543 |
| Single-parent households | 577 |
| Average household size | 2.44 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 14.9% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 568 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 320 |
| Family households | 10,683 households (vs North Carolina 17,226) |
| Households that are families | 59.2% (vs North Carolina 58.5%) |
| Total households | 18,042 households (vs North Carolina 25,235) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 14.8% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 2,321 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 14.8% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 76,951 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 74,630 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 2,321 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 2,368 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 5.5% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 1,623 residents live in group quarters (3.7% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 1,623 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 11 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 37023 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 37 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 023 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Burke |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 25.6% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 22.60 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 29.00 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 37023 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Burke County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Medium metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 3,960 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 37023 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Burke County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 64.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 50.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 33.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 90,485 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 17 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 33 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 21.3% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 44,258, growing, family-oriented, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 44,258 people (vs North Carolina 70,630) |
| Town Summary · County | Burke County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade