Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

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2023 Population

366,972

0.257% 1-year growth

US Senator

Thom Tillis

Republican Party

US Senator

Ted Budd

Republican Party

2023 Median Age

43.4

0.463% 1-year increase

2023 Poverty Rate

13.9%

0.0727% 1-year decrease

2023 Median Household Income

$60,255

3.99% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$193,400

12% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

169,854

0.818% 1-year growth

About

In 2023, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC had a population of 367k people with a median age of 43.4 and a median household income of $60,255. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC grew from 366,031 to 366,972, a 0.257% increase and its median household income grew from $57,943 to $60,255, a 3.99% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC are White (Non-Hispanic) (78.4%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (6.22%), Other (Hispanic) (3.74%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.4%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (2.84%).

None of the households in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

97.1% of the residents in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC are Catawba Valley Community College (1,765 degrees awarded in 2022), Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (1,292 degrees), and Lenoir-Rhyne University (607 degrees).

In 2023, the median property value in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC was $193,400, and the homeownership rate was 74.3%.

Most people in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 24.2 minutes. The average car ownership in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC was 2 cars per household.

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC borders Boone, NC, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC, Forest City, NC, Marion, NC, North Wilkesboro, NC, and Shelby, NC.

About the photo: Wisemans View, NC

Photo by Joe Giordano

United States North Carolina

Population & Diversity

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC is home to a population of 367k people, from which 97.1% are citizens. As of 2023, 5.3% of Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC residents were born outside of the country (19.4k people).

In 2023, there were 12.6 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (288k people) in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 22.8k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 13.7k Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.1%

2023 Citizenship

97.1%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 97.1% of Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC was 97.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

White (Non-Hispanic)
288k ± 556
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
22.8k ± 796
Other (Hispanic)
13.7k ± 1.27k

8.8%

Hispanic Population

32.3k people

8.8% of the people in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC are hispanic (32.3k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the MSA level, so we are showing data for North Carolina.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
214,508 ± 11,254 people
India
79,868 ± 6,912 people
Honduras
39,759 ± 4,886 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of North Carolina was Mexico, the natal country of 214,508 North Carolina residents, followed by India with 79,868 and Honduras with 39,759.

Foreign-Born Population

5.3%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

19.4k people

5.11%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

18.7k people

As of 2023, 5.3% of Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC residents (19.4k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC was 5.11%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
7,887 ± 509
Gulf War (2001-)
3,824 ± 511
Gulf War (1990s)
2,641 ± 444

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.06 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC employs 170k people. The largest industries in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC are Manufacturing (41,635 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (22,046 people), and Retail Trade (19,324 people), and the highest paying industries are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($98,554), Utilities ($71,316), and Management of Companies & Enterprises ($71,118).

Males in North Carolina have an average income that is 1.31 times higher than the average income of females, which is $57,464. The income inequality in North Carolina (measured using the Gini index) is 0.47, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

170k

2023 Value

± 3,483

0.818%

1 Year growth

± 2.91%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC grew at a rate of 0.818%, from 168k employees to 170k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC, are Production Occupations (24,396 people), Management Occupations (16,801 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (16,700 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in North Carolina (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

170k

2023 Value

± 3,483

0.818%

1 Year growth

± 2.91%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC grew at a rate of 0.818%, from 168k employees to 170k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC, are Manufacturing (41,635 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (22,046 people), and Retail Trade (19,324 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC, though some of these residents may live in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$45,682

Median earning men ± $816

$35,335

Median earning women ± $855

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Information ($66,058), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($62,846), and Wholesale Trade ($56,198).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($60,208), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($50,943), and Construction ($50,455).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Y-Axis

3.04%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 4.86M people employed in North Carolina. This represents a 3.04% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.9%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in North Carolina.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

607
Other Services (except Public Administration)
524
Retail Trade
513
Construction

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Depending on the option selected, the visualization shows the number of employees or number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$2.15M
Manufacturing
$1.22M
Health Care and Social Assistance
$552k
Retail Trade

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Education

In 2022, universities in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC awarded 4,184 degrees. The student population of Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC in 2022 is skewed towards women, with 4,818 male students and 7,160 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC are White (3,068 and 74.6%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (406 and 9.87%), Black or African American (229 and 5.57%), and Asian (220 and 5.35%).

The largest universities in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC by number of degrees awarded are Catawba Valley Community College (1,765 and 42.2%), Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (1,292 and 30.9%), and Lenoir-Rhyne University (607 and 14.5%).

The most popular majors in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC are Liberal Arts & Sciences (1,095 and 26.2%), General Business Administration & Management (321 and 7.67%), and Registered Nursing (199 and 4.76%).

The median tuition cost in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC for private four year colleges is $43,000.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2022 in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC, the percentage of applicants admitted was 82.9%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 8.74%. The number of students enrolled in 2022 was 11,978 (40.2% men and 59.8% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2022 there were 11,978 students enrolled in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC, 40.2% men and 59.8% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 8,430 records, of which 60.4% were women and 39.6% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Other Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies, & Humanities
181 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
143 degrees awarded
Liberal Arts & Sciences
1,095 degrees awarded

In 2022, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC was Other Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies, & Humanities with 181 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Catawba Valley Community College
1,765 degrees awarded
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
1,292 degrees awarded
Lenoir-Rhyne University
607 degrees awarded

In 2022, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Catawba Valley Community College with 1,765 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2022, 1,689 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC, which is 0.677 times less than the 2,495 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2022 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 3,068 degrees mean that there were 7.56 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 406 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($43,000) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2022.

Public, 2-year ($209) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2022.

Public, 2-year ($1,900) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Measure

In 2022, 0.944% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.805% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (2.16M), Some college (1.84M), and Bachelors Degree (1.63M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC was $193,400 in 2023, which is 0.637 times smaller than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $172,700 to $193,400, a 12% increase. The homeownership rate in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC is 74.3%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC have an average commute time of 24.2 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC is $60,255. In 2023, the county with the highest Median Household Income in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC was Wake County, NC with a value of $101,763, followed by Union County, NC and Currituck County, NC, with respective values of $99,243 and $91,548.

Housing

Property

$193,400

Median Property Value 2023

±$3,807

$109,836

Median Property Taxes

±$2,648

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

74.3%

Homeownership

2023

67%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 74.3% of the housing units in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 74%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

In 2023, the county with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC was Wake County, NC with a value of $101,763, followed by Union County, NC and Currituck County, NC, with respective values of $99,243 and $91,548.

The following map shows all of the counties in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$60,255

Median Household Income

± $1,481

148k

Number of Households

± 3,179

In 2023, the median household income of the 148k households in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC grew to $60,255 from the previous year's value of $57,943.

The following chart displays the households in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC is from North Carolina.

0.47

2022 Wage GINI in North Carolina

0.47

2021 Wage GINI in North Carolina

In 2022, the income inequality in North Carolina was 0.47 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.0732% decline from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for North Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in North Carolina in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in North Carolina across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (81.9%)
Carpooled (9.77%)
Worked At Home (6.56%)

In 2023, 81.9% of workers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (9.77%) and those who worked at home (6.56%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

24.2 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC have a shorter commute time (24.2 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 2.67% of the workforce in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

13.9% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (50k out of 359k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 45 - 54 and then Males 55 - 64.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC is White, followed by Hispanic and Black.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

88.7% of the population of Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC has health coverage, with 42% on employee plans, 17% on Medicaid, 15.6% on Medicare, 12.4% on non-group plans, and 1.75% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in North Carolina see 1413 patients per year on average, which represents a 1% increase from the previous year (1399 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1657 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 336 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

1,413 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in North Carolina

Primary care physicians in North Carolina see an average of 1,413 patients per year. This represents a 1% increase from the previous year (1,399 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in North Carolina in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 21.9% under 18 years, 18.6% between 18 and 34 years, 39.7% between 35 and 64 years, and 19.8% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.6% were men and 51.4% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

11.3%

Uninsured

42%

Employer Coverage

17%

Medicaid

15.6%

Medicare

12.4%

Non-Group

1.75%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC grew by 1.02% from 11.2% to 11.3%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Keep Exploring

North Carolina

State

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC