Hickory: Economy & Jobs
Households in Hickory earn a median $64,576 (about the same as Catawba County median $67,864; 1.1× below North Carolina median $72,388), with homes at a median value of $278,400. The surrounding county supports 29,553 jobs (avg $48,986).
- $59,014 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income (vs North Carolina $84,123).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $64,576 — below the North Carolina median ($79,112). Poverty rate 17.1% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 28% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 4.3× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 18.1% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 28.5% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 17.1% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 3.2% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $39,030 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $2,303,330 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $59,014 (vs North Carolina $84,123) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $72,200 |
| Median Household Income | $64,576 (vs North Carolina $79,112) |
| Poverty Rate | 17.1% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Manufacturing |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $64,576 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 2.2% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 13% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 21.10 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 12.9% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 29,553 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $1,447,692,811 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $48,986 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 4,795,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.2% (vs North Carolina 3.1%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 23 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 4,548 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 197.70 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Sod, Animal Totals, Poultry Totals, Horticulture Totals, Nursery Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 1,513 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 23,686 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 998,371 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 13 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 12 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 37 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 28 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · New Car Dealers | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Used Car Dealers | 3 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 48 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 67 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 5 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 12 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (20)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | WALGREENS 7646 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 96 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | CATAWBA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $570,333,932 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 6,512.89 (vs North Carolina $7,140) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 87,570 people (vs North Carolina 70,630) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 72.3% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 0.9% |
| Pct Walked | 12.9% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 37.5 years (vs North Carolina 36.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 31.7% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 2 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | good |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12