Hickory

Background Image

Hickory, NC

Area Guide

A tradition of innovation and craftsmanship.

Innovation Development Nature Outdoors Active

Sitting right along I-40, Hickory gives residents a distinctive small-town experience while still convenient to the urban center of Charlotte and the stunning natural beauty around Asheville, both of which are roughly an hour away by car.

The city of Hickory prides itself on craftsmanship, and the maker culture runs deep. The city is invested in constant improvement efforts, ranging from citywide beautification projects to the cultivation of the business sector. It’s a great place to rent for folks who love having hands-on involvement in their hometown--living in Hickory puts you at the center of a community that never stops asking itself, “How can we be even better?”

Explore the City

Residents frequent the shops in Downtown Hickory.

There is always a big turn out at local events.

Rivers and forests provide ample space to enjoy nature.

Rent Trends

As of July 2025, the average apartment rent in Hickory, NC is $844 for a studio, $1,148 for one bedroom, $1,381 for two bedrooms, and $1,647 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Hickory has increased by 2.5% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,148/month
744 Sq Ft
House
$2,107/month
1,243 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,391/month
780 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Hickory, NC

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Hickory, NC is 6.0% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Hickory is 10.4% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $844 - $1,648. You can expect to pay 0.1% more for groceries, 8.4% less for utilities, and 2.3% less for transportation.

Compare Cities

$

Transportation

40

Car-Dependent

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

1

Minimal Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

27

Somewhat Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.

Schools

Mountain View Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

686 Students

Clyde Campbell Elementary

Public

Grades PK-6

479 Students

Oakwood Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

341 Students

Ray Childers Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

457 Students

Webb A Murray Elementary

Public

Grades PK-6

389 Students

Grandview Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

400 Students

Harry M Arndt Middle

Public

Grades 7-8

631 Students

Northview Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

480 Students

Catawba Valley Early College High School

Public

Grades 9-12

352 Students

Saint Stephens High

Public

Grades PK & 9-12

1,265 Students

Hickory High

Public

Grades PK & 9-12

1,014 Students

Points of Interest

Top Apartments in Hickory

Houses for Rent in Hickory

Property Management Companies in Hickory, NC

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2025.