Hickory, NC Video Transcript

Only an hour east of the Blue Ridge Mountains at the intersection of I-40 and Route 321 north, sits Hickory, NC, one of the jewels of North Carolina’s scenic heartland and an increasingly popular place for those thinking about relocating or retiring to North Carolina.

With a population of over 40,000 people, Hickory is the largest city in Catawba County, NC and the center of a four county metropolitan area of over 350,000.

Often called the “Furniture Capital of the World” due to the fact that almost 60% of the nation’s furniture is produced in the area, Hickory has long attracted tourists and bargain shoppers, but its pleasant climate, low cost of living and affordable housing has also attracted an increasing number of new residents.

In fact, over the last 20 years, Hickory’s population has grown by almost 30% and it was recently named the 10^th best place to live and raise a family in the United States by Reader’s Digest.

Beautiful neighborhoods with well-kept homes of all shape and size lie not far from the historic downtown and give the city a welcoming, small town feel.  In comparison to other cities in western North Carolina, home prices in Hickory are quite affordable with the median sales prices for a typical three bedroom home currently around $125,000 and $240,000 for a four bedroom home.

Property taxes are low in North Carolina and local property taxes in Hickory and the surrounding area are not only lower than the state average but haven’t gone up in almost fifteen years.

For those not looking to buy a home, the rental market for townhomes, condominiums and apartments in Hickory and the surrounding area is strong and equally affordable.

Best of all, being situated not far from the mountains, Hickory enjoys a pleasant four season climate that is not overly hot in the summer nor particularly cold in the winter and while average precipitation hovers around 50 inches per year, you can also expect at least 300 days of sunshine a year.

Younger families moving to Hickory can rest assured that their children have a number of school choices.  The Hickory and Catawba County public schools systems serve nearly 10,000 students across 10 elementary schools, 3 middle schools and 3 high schools.  Hickory  New residents looking to take college or continuing education classes may want to look at local colleges like the Catawba Valley Community College, the Appalachian Center at Hickory or historic Lenoir-Rhyne University. also has a number of private and religious schools as well as preschools.

It is said you can tell a lot about a community from its downtown and downtown Hickory is a vibrant, beautiful place that preserves the old while welcoming the new.

Downtown Hickory has been called the cultural and historic heart of the Catawba valley region and after only a short walk you’ll understand why.  Stroll along cobbled brick sidewalks and plazas past inviting storefronts containing charming specialty shops, modern art galleries, quaint restaurants and the assorted furniture showrooms.  While a large percentage of Hickory’s residents work in manufacturing and health services, you’ll quickly see that there is a thriving art and crafts community here including the largest community of potters in North Carolina.

Green spaces and small parks enhance the sense of calm and relaxation while historic monuments provide a sense of time and place.  Many fun things to see and do lie only blocks away including the Catawba Science Center and the Hickory Museum of Art, one of the first museums exclusively dedicated to American art in the country.

And don’t forget scenic mountains, beautiful lakes and streams as well as a number of national parks are only a short trip away.

For its beautiful location, low cost of living and strong sense of community Hickory, NC is clearly one of our Best Places to Live, Relocate or Retire to in North Carolina.