Hickory city, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Hickory city is a mid-sized community located in North Carolina. The total population is 43,747. It ranks as the 24th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hickory city is 37.7 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hickory city is $63,361. This is 9% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 19% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.0%. This is 29% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. The median home value is $248,300. Housing costs are 4% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x. 55.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Hickory city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 64.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 13.9%.

Education

35.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 3% higher than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Hickory city, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.