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City · 44,258 residents · Catawba County, North Carolina

Hickory , North Carolina

In Hickory, a typical home is worth $278,400 and typical rent is $1,063 a month. Compared with all of Catawba County, the typical home value is 15% higher, typical rent is 10% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 17 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $278,400

    15% above the county

    4% below North Carolina

    • Hickory
    • Catawba
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $1,063a month

    10% above the county

    13% below North Carolina

    • Hickory
    • Catawba
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $64,576a year

    5% below the county

    11% below North Carolina

    • Hickory
    • Catawba
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    55%

    17 points below the county

    12 points below North Carolina

    • Hickory
    • Catawba
    • North Carolina

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$292,718
1.3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,522 a month
3.2% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Hickory is in Catawba County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Catawba County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Hickory apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Long View, the typical home value is $157,300: 43% less than in Hickory ($278,400).

  2. 55% of households in Hickory own their home, against 72% in Catawba County.

  3. Nearby, in Sawmills, the typical rent is $730: 31% less than in Hickory ($1,063).

  4. The typical home in Hickory is worth $278,400, 15% more than in Catawba County as a whole ($241,600).

  5. Hickory has the 14th smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 136 cities in North Carolina with more than 5,000 people (40%).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Hickory

What homes there are in Hickory, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is still the most common home in Hickory, but it weighs less than in Catawba County: 55% against 69%.

Year built

In Hickory, half of the homes were built before 1982; in Catawba County, before 1985.

There are fewer big homes in Hickory than in Catawba County: 52% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 65%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 87% of owner-occupied homes in Hickory are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Catawba County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Catawba County is $1,147: about 56% of rents in Hickory are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,470 a month

Catawba County: $1,343 a month

Without a mortgage

$489 a month

Catawba County: $404 a month

Owners with a mortgage

65%

Catawba County: 59%

Owning costs more in Hickory: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,470 a month; in Catawba County, $1,343. Without one, $489.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Hickory rose 65%; in Catawba County, it rose 68%.

Rents in Hickory rose faster than in Catawba County: 45% since 2015–2019, against 31%.

Housing prices ran ahead of income in Hickory: typical income rose 36%, against +65% for home values and +45% for rent.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureHickoryCatawba CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy 7.4%6.6%7.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.6%1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room 3.2%2.3%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.362.432.442.53
Drive alone 72%80%72%69%
Carpool 13%11%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 1%1%2%3%
Work from home 13%8%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Open rentals in Hickory look like those in Catawba County: the rental vacancy rate is 7.4%.

In Hickory, 3.2% of households live with more than one person per room, about the same as in Catawba County.

A household in Hickory has 2.36 people on average, about the same as in Catawba County (2.43).

Working from home is more common in Hickory: 13%, against 8% in Catawba County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Hickory?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Hickory, worth $278,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 42% of the typical household income in Hickory, which is $64,576 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $96,970 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Catawba County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Hickory. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $9,744 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,263

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$273,357
Total interest
$393,297
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,701 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,507 a month

  • Tight

    $1,507 to $1,937 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,937 a month

    Your payment · 42%

Compared with the typical household income in Hickory ($64,576 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,263
Principal & interest$1,852
Property tax$172
Home insurance$116
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$123

You need at least $9,744 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Hickory and Catawba County

Hickory is in Catawba County, North Carolina. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Hickory's own numbers

Typical home value
$278,400
Typical monthly rent
$1,063
Typical yearly household income
$64,576
Households that own their home
55%
Effective property tax rate
0.74%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Catawba County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,147
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+64%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.5%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Catawba County.

Everything about Catawba County

Buying

Buying a home in Hickory

A typical home in Hickory is worth $278,400: 15% above the county and 4% below North Carolina. With the typical household income in Hickory ($64,576 a year), a typical home costs 4.3 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Hickory 4.3 years
  • Catawba 3.6 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Catawba County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Catawba County rose 111% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Catawba County.

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.5% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +64% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +111% +107% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Hickory next to Catawba County, North Carolina and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Hickory $278,400
  • Catawba $241,600
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Hickory $1,063
  • Catawba $965
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Hickory $64,576
  • Catawba $67,864
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Hickory next to Catawba County and North Carolina
Measure Hickory Catawba County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $278,400 $241,600 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,063 $965 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $64,576 $67,864 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 55% 72% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,066 $1,407 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.74% 0.58% 0.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 40% 41% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Catawba County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Hickory

For a typical $278,400 home in Hickory, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Hickory's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,263a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $9,744
    Cash to close
    $18,096
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $123

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,212a month

    Down payment
    $13,920
    Cash to close
    $22,272
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $132

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,796a month

    Down payment
    $55,680
    Cash to close
    $64,032
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,054a month

    Down payment
    $41,760
    Cash to close
    $50,112
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Hickory and for Catawba County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Hickory

0.74%of the home’s value each year

$2,066 a year for the typical owner in Hickory.

  • Hickory 0.74%
  • Catawba 0.58%
  • North Carolina 0.66%

What North Carolina publishes Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion (North Carolina General Assembly (statute))

Exemptions and deadlines in North Carolina

Flood risk in Catawba County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Catawba County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.5%
293
Of those, with NFIP insurance
31%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.5% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 31% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Hickory

Typical rent in Hickory is $1,063 a month: 10% above the county. In Hickory, 40% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Catawba County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,147 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $22.06 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Catawba County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $961 $18.48 $38,440
1 bedroom $965 $18.56 $38,600
2 bedrooms $1,147 $22.06 $45,880
3 bedrooms $1,399 $26.90 $55,960
4 bedrooms $1,707 $32.83 $68,280

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Hickory

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Hickory has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,250 in 28602 to $1,320 in 28601.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Catawba County ($1,147).

  • 28601 $1,320$1,610
  • 28602 $1,250$1,520

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Hickory when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Hickory

HUD lists 15 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Hickory. These are the largest.

  • Hickory Scattered Sites & Wimberly Crossing 1128 2nd Street Pl SE, Hickory 28602 311 low-income homes · For families (828) 328-5373
  • Silver Springs Terrace 950 20th St NE, Hickory 28601 100 low-income homes · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 34 · 3 bd: 42 · 4 bd: 16 · In service since 2001 · For families (828) 322-1129
  • Highland Park 1510 21st St NE, Hickory 28601 80 low-income homes · 1 bd: 7 · 2 bd: 53 · 3 bd: 20 · In service since 2018 · For families
  • The Lodge at Hickory 1186 4th Street Ct SW, Hickory 28602 80 low-income homes · 1 bd: 14 · 2 bd: 50 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2020 · For families
  • Twin Cedars Apts 20th Avenue DR Ne, Hickory 28601 72 low-income homes · 2 bd: 48 · 3 bd: 24 · In service since 2001 · For families

See all 28 buildings in Catawba County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Hickory

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Catawba County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A grandmother smiles, seated at home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Hickory

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Hickory or Catawba County. The ones below are statewide in North Carolina: they work in Hickory the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in North Carolina

  • NC Home Advantage Mortgage

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA fixed-rate mortgage with down payment assistance, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment

    Statewide in North Carolina

    A fixed amount of NCHFA down payment assistance for first-time buyers and veterans in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA interest-free loan with deferred payments of up to 25% of the price (maximum $50,000) for the down payment of low- and moderate-income buyers in North Carolina; you apply through a member organization. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Hickory

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Hickory, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Western Piedmont Council of Governments

    1880 2nd Ave NW, Hickory · 3 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 3 more
    (828) 322-9191

  • The Safeguard Group - Housing & Debt Advisors

    240 N Main St, Mooresville · 30 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 5 more
    800-673-6993-146

  • Ada Jenkins Families and Careers Development Center, Inc.

    212 Gamble St, Davidson · 31 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 7 more
    (704) 896-0471

Every agency in Catawba County All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near Hickory

3 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Hickory

HUD’s record names them for Hickory or Catawba County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • City of Hickory Public Housing Authority Public housing (828) 322-9191

One other authority has an office in Catawba County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Catawba County

These cities are also in Catawba County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Catawba County Housing in North Carolina

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Hickory, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Catawba County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Hickory.

All guides
A couple spread mulch under the avocado trees of their family orchard, he on the tractor and she with a shovel.

Questions

Housing questions about Hickory

Short answers with the numbers for Hickory and all of Catawba County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Hickory?

The typical home value in Hickory is $278,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Catawba County it is $241,600.

How much does it cost to rent in Hickory?

Typical rent in Hickory is $1,063 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Catawba County is $1,147.

What is the FHA loan limit in Hickory?

Hickory uses the FHA limit for all of Catawba County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Hickory?

The typical homeowner in Hickory pays $2,066 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.74% of the home’s value; in Catawba County, the rate is 0.58%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Hickory?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Catawba County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).