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Area data

Hickory, NC — ZIP 28602

Population: 31,113 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in ZIP 28602 (Hickory, NC) is $252,021 — up 1.6% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $292,400 after a median 75 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,596/month. 5 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with ice storm, lightning, inland flooding the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 5.7% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$252,021

Typical home value

+1.6%

1-year change

75

Median days on market

Relatively Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$252,021
1-year appreciation
+1.6%
3-year appreciation
+9.3%
5-year appreciation
+32.4%
10-year appreciation
+119.1%
Peak value since 2000 (Apr 2026)
$253,717
House Price Index (state)
445.4 (+0.4% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$292,400
Median list price
$299,000
Median price per sqft
$172
1-year sale-price change
+4.4%
Median days on market
75 days
Homes sold (recent period)
95
For-sale inventory
100
Sale-to-list ratio
97.2%
Active listings
120
1-year forecast
+1.3%
New listings (monthly)
26

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$1,596/mo
1-year rent change
+2.3%
Studio fair-market rent
$961/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$965/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,147/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,399/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,707/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Below Average)
94.3 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
14.0¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$16.40/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
5
Elementary schools
3
Middle schools
1
High schools
1
Avg student-teacher ratio
17.3 : 1
School districts serving the area
Catawba County Schools, Hickory City Schools
Schools include
Mountain View Elementary, Challenger Early College High, Grandview Middle, Longview Elementary, Southwest Primary

Source: NCES school directory, 2024-25 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Low
Top hazards (county)
ice storm, lightning, inland flooding, strong wind, tornado
Notable hazard ratings (county)
ice storm: Very High · lightning: Relatively High · tornado: Relatively Moderate · strong wind: Relatively Moderate · winter weather: Relatively Moderate · inland flooding: Relatively Moderate
Most common flood zone among NFIP claims
Zone X
NFIP flood claims on record
15
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 32% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
67.1%
Radon potential (county)
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
Sigmon's Septic Tank Service (23.5 mi)
Flood zones vary by property. Look up a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA NFIP flood-insurance claims (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
59.0°F
Average high
69.0°F
Average low
49.0°F
Annual precipitation
47.2 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
8a (extreme annual low 10 to 15°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
42
Days with Good air quality
239
Days with Moderate air quality
108
Highest AQI recorded (year)
88

Source: EPA annual air quality index (county-level)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
7.5 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
14,227
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
11,677

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
3
Nearest national park
Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (37 mi)
National parks include
Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, Kings Mountain National Military Park, Cowpens National Battlefield
Airports within 30 mi
32
Nearest airport
Wilson's Airport (2 mi)
Nearest major airport
Hickory Regional Airport (HKY) (5 mi)
Hospitals in or near this ZIP
1
Hospitals include
CATAWBA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
2.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
2.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (4.5 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
+828 tax filers

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration (county-level; published with a multi-year lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1982
Housing built before 1970
34.0%
Housing built 2000 or later
22.5%
Median annual property tax
$1,252
Mean commute to work
20 min
Households with broadband internet
73.6%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
79,518
Average weekly wage
$1,126
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Administrative Services
Annual residential building permits (county)
1,944

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

ZIP 28602State medianUS median
Typical home value$252,021$285,911$288,527
Median sale price$292,400$330,000$325,000
Median days on market75 days70 days51 days
Typical rent$1,596/mo$1,688/mo$1,809/mo
Median annual property tax$1,252$1,366$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the typical home value in ZIP 28602?
$252,021.
What is the median sale price in ZIP 28602?
$292,400.
How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 28602?
Median days on market: 75 days.
What is typical rent in ZIP 28602?
Typical rent: $1,596/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 28602?
Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: ice storm, lightning, inland flooding, strong wind, tornado.
Is ZIP 28602 in a flood zone?
Flood zones vary by property within ZIP 28602. 15 FEMA flood-insurance (NFIP) claims are on record; the most common zone among them is X. Check a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 28602?
Risk to homes is higher than 32% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 28602?
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 28602?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve ZIP 28602?
5 schools (3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high) (NCES, 2024-25).
Is ZIP 28602 walkable?
Walkability index: 7.5/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in ZIP 28602?
Good. Median AQI: 42. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 28602?
Regional Price Parity: 94.3 (100 = US average) (Below Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

Nearby ZIP codes

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

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