Population & age
- Total population
- 53,172
- Median age
- 40.3
Hickory, NC (28601)
Catawba County · Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC · Population 53,172
Fresh.Data current as of Apr 24, 2026
Hickory, NC (ZIP 28601) sits in Catawba County within the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metro area. The page draws on 2 federal data feeds retrieved Apr 27. Top health signal: High Blood Pressure comes in above the national average at 36.6%. NCES lists 12 schools serving the area, 12 non-charter. 9 colleges and universities serve the area, with median in-state tuition of $2,646. IRS data shows average household income (AGI) of $86,304, well above the ~$45K national average per return. FEMA has issued 28 federal disaster declarations affecting this ZIP since 1974 — a high-frequency exposure profile. Annual precipitation averages 52.6" — a wet-climate ZCTA per NOAA's 1991–2020 Normals. County Health Rankings reports 11,084 years of potential life lost per 100,000 (2025) — well above the national county median. 28.3% of residents in this county are flagged low-access by USDA's 2025 Food Environment Atlas — a notable supermarket-access gap. North Carolina levies a flat state income tax (top rate 4.25%); a household at the local median AGI of $86,304 would pay roughly $2,201/year before deductions. IRS migration data (2022-2023) shows a net gain of 2,445 residents (1,208 households) — the ZIP's primary county is growing. Healthcare access and school options both run strong here, giving residents a wide menu of providers and enrollment choices nearby. Notable: median household income $65,158, fair market rent of $1,260 for a two-bedroom, and a typical home value of $304,554, up 2.1% over the past year. Every figure on this page links to its underlying federal dataset with a retrieval date so you can audit the freshness yourself.
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Demographics
Race & ethnicity
- White
- 78.1%
- Black
- 7.9%
- Asian
- 4.1%
- Hispanic / Latino
- 9.3%
- Other / multi-racial
- 9.8%
Income & housing
- Median household income
- $65,158
- Median home value
- $223,100
Education
- Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)
- 31.9%
Employment
- Unemployment rate
- 5.3%
Housing
- Owner-occupied
- 14,053(65.4%)
- Renter-occupied
- 7,448(34.6%)
- Vacant units
- 2,294
- Built (median)
- 1981
Commute
- Public transit
- 67(0.3%)
- Work from home
- 1,595(6.3%)
- Avg commute
- 20.0 min
Economic wellbeing
- Below poverty line
- 6,284(12.1%)
- Uninsured
- 886(1.7%)
Digital access
- Broadband access
- 19,062(88.7%)
- No broadband
- 2,439(11.3%)
Language & nativity
- Foreign-born
- 3,904(7.3%)
- Non-English at home
- 6,674(13.2%)
Fair Market Rent
Fresh.HUD SAFMR · May 1, 2026Studio
$990
/month
1 Bed
$1,040
/month
2 Bed
$1,260
/month
3 Bed
$1,580
/month
4 Bed
$1,910
/month
HUD Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of standard-quality rental housing in this area. FY2026 data.
Home values
Typical home value
$304,554
Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) · as of March 2026
Year-over-year change
+2.1%
vs. March 2025
5-year change
+39.4%
vs. March 2021
Metro area
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Metropolitan statistical area
Source: Zillow Research, ZHVI All Homes (SFR, Condo/Co-op) Time Series (zillow.com/research/data). Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) is copyrighted by Zillow, Inc.
New housing construction
New housing units permitted
2,775
Across 2,420 permitted buildings. Total construction value: $577.9M.
Single-family
2,310
83% of total units
Multifamily (2+ unit)
465
17% of total units
Single-family value
$524.4M
construction value
Multifamily value
$53.5M
construction value
Aggregated from 4 counties touching this ZIP (2024).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (census.gov/construction/bps). Public domain. BPS reports annual residential building permits from local permit-issuing jurisdictions, aggregated to county. A permit reflects intent to build, not a completed unit — actual construction lags by 6-24 months for multifamily projects.
Income & tax statistics
Tax returns filed
24,860
Average AGI
$86,304
Avg property tax
$306
EITC participation
14.8%
Income distribution
- $1 – $25,00027.5% · 6,830
- $25,000 – $50,00027.2% · 6,770
- $50,000 – $75,00015.3% · 3,800
- $75,000 – $100,0009.1% · 2,260
- $100,000 – $200,00013.9% · 3,460
- $200,000 or more7.0% · 1,740
Avg mortgage interest
$499
Avg charitable contribution
$1,298
Avg capital gains
$5,804
Avg total income tax
—
Source: IRS Statistics of Income — Individual Income Tax Statistics by ZIP Code (irs.gov). Public domain. Dollar columns reported in thousands by the IRS; figures here display real dollars. Total ZCTA AGI for the area was $2145.5M across all reported brackets.
Business & employment
Business establishments
1,392
Total employment
23,964
Annual payroll
$1.2B
Average annual pay
$50,493
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Business Patterns (census.gov). Public domain. ZBP covers establishments with paid employees; Census suppresses employment and payroll values when fewer employers operate in a ZIP than would protect their confidentiality.
Employment & wages
Average annual pay
$55,761
Average weekly wage
$1,072
Total employment
89,388
Total establishments
5,206
That is roughly 15% below the US national average of $65,470 per worker.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (bls.gov/cew). Public domain. QCEW is derived from state unemployment-insurance filings and covers ~95% of US jobs. Figures are county-level totals assigned to ZIPs whose primary county matches; small-employer cells are suppressed by BLS to protect employer confidentiality.
Unemployment
Unemployment rate
3.6%
That is 0.4 percentage points below the US national unemployment rate of about 4.0%.
Labor force
77,847
Employed
75,068
Unemployed
2,779
Based on Catawba County, NC data (2024).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (bls.gov/lau). Public domain. LAUS publishes monthly and annual labor-force estimates for every US county. Figures are county-level totals assigned to ZIPs whose primary county matches.
Banking access
FDIC-insured bank branches
16
Strong banking access
Multiple institutions and offices within easy reach of residents.
Total deposits
$2.9B
across all branches in this ZIP
Distinct institutions
10
different banks operating here
Top banks by deposits in this ZIP
- 1.Truist Bank$836.7M · 2 branches
- 2.First Horizon Bank$543.7M · 2 branches
- 3.Wells Fargo Bank, National Association$496.3M · 3 branches
Based on FDIC-insured branch offices as of June 30, 2024.
Source: FDIC Summary of Deposits (fdic.gov). Annual June-30 snapshot of every FDIC-insured branch and the deposits booked there. Figures cover all institutions reporting a branch address in this ZIP.
Community health centers
Federally funded health-center sites
13
Excellent health-center coverage
A high concentration of federally funded community health centers — typical of urban cores with dense low-income populations or established safety-net networks.
FQHC sites
13
federally qualified
Look-Alike sites
0
FQHC equivalents
Avg hours / week
41.5
across sites in this ZIP
Sites in this ZIP
- 1.Kintegra at Arndt Middle School
- 2.Kintegra at Northview Middle
- 3.Kintegra at Hickory Career & Arts Magnet
+ 10 more sites in this ZIP
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Look-Alike sites provide primary care on a sliding-fee scale, regardless of ability to pay. Active sites only; data refreshed 2026.
Source: HRSA Bureau of Primary Health Care (data.hrsa.gov). Per-ZIP counts of active service-delivery sites operated by Health Center Program grantees and Look-Alike organizations.
Hospitals & healthcare facilities
Facilities located inside ZIP 28601 from CMS Provider Data. Star ratings reflect Overall Hospital Quality where applicable; “Not rated” means the facility didn't report enough measures to qualify.
Hospitals (1)
FRYE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
★★★★★2.0
Acute Care Hospitals
Proprietary
Emergency services
420 N CENTER ST, HICKORY, NC, 28601
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Provider Data (data.cms.gov). Public domain.
Public transit
FTA tracks transit service at the urbanized-area level. Numbers below reflect the agencies and modes serving the area that contains this ZIP, not stop-level coverage.
Service status
Available
Hickory, NC
Reporting agencies
1
Largest: Western Piedmont Regional Transit Authority
Annual ridership
—
unlinked trips · 2024
Source: U.S. Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database (transit.dot.gov). Public domain.
Alternative-fuel stations
Public EV charging stations
1
Limited EV charging
A small number of public charging stations — viable for EV ownership with home charging, but minimal redundancy.
Level 2 ports
0
AC charging — workplace, retail, home
DC Fast ports
0
Highway-class fast charging
Charging networks
- EV Connect
Active public stations only. Snapshot taken 2026; AFDC's underlying registry refreshes continuously as stations open and close.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy via NREL (afdc.energy.gov). Per-ZIP counts of active public alternative-fuel stations (electric, hydrogen, propane, CNG, biodiesel, E85, LNG, renewable diesel) and EV charging-port totals.
Public libraries
Public-library outlets
3
Multiple library outlets
Several public-library outlets within the ZIP, giving residents real choice in branch hours, programming, and walk-in distance.
Buildings
3
1 central · 2 branch
Avg hours / week
45
across outlets in this ZIP
Avg square feet
17,752
per outlet
Outlets in this ZIP
- 1.Bethlehem Branch Library
- 2.St. Stephens Branch Library
- 3.Patrick Beaver Memorial Library
Public libraries provide free WiFi, computer access, children's programming, job-seeking resources, and meeting space — community infrastructure beyond books. FY2023 outlet inventory from the federal Public Libraries Survey.
Source: Institute of Museum and Library Services (imls.gov). Per-ZIP counts of active public-library outlets — central buildings, branches, and bookmobiles — operated by federally reporting library systems.
Federal Disaster Declarations
Federally Declared Disasters
28
Date Range
1974–2026
Most Recent Declaration
SEVERE WINTER STORM
Winter Storm — declared January 24, 2026 (DR-3637)
Incident period: January 21, 2026 – January 27, 2026
Top Incident Types
- Hurricane8 (29%)
- Snowstorm4 (14%)
- Severe Storm3 (11%)
- Flood3 (11%)
- Tropical Storm2 (7%)
- Other8 (29%)
Individual Assistance
6
Direct help to disaster survivors
Households Program
4
Housing & temporary lodging support
Public Assistance
26
Repair of public facilities & roads
Hazard Mitigation
11
Funding to reduce future disaster risk
FEMA declares disasters at the county level; counts here include every federally declared disaster touching any county that overlaps this ZIP. Statewide declarations and pre-1964 records without county granularity are excluded. Program flags reflect which FEMA assistance categories were activated (Individual Assistance, Households, Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation). Source: fema.gov/openfema. Public domain.
Climate
30-year averages (1991-2020) from the nearest GHCN-D weather station. Temperature and precipitation values reflect typical annual conditions, not any single year.
Avg. temperature
58.3°F
47.7° – 68.8°
Annual precipitation
52.6"
Annual snowfall
3.8"
Heating · cooling days
3,694.1 · 1,264.8
Annual base 65°F
Nearest station: TAYLORSVILLE, NC US, 13.5 miles from the centroid of Hickory, NC (ZIP 28601)
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals (ncei.noaa.gov). Public domain.
Air quality
Median daily AQI
42
GoodGood 232dModerate 118d
Peak AQI (2024)
93
Moderate
Primary pollutant
PM2.5
350 days as main pollutant
Days measured
350
Based on Catawba County data (2024).
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Air Quality System (epa.gov). Public domain. Only counties with EPA AQS monitoring stations appear here (~30% of US counties); rural ZIPs whose primary county has no monitor will not show this section.
Community health profile
Years of potential life lost (per 100K)
11,084
That is roughly 2,884 years per 100,000 above the national county median (~8,200).
Premature death is the headline composite outcome CHR reports — age-adjusted, all-cause, before age 75.
Fair or poor health
18%
of adults self-report
Poor physical health days
3.9
avg per adult per month
Poor mental health days
5.0
avg per adult per month
Uninsured
11.9%
of residents under 65
Primary care MDs
64
per 100,000 residents
Preventable hospital stays
2,376
per 100K Medicare enrollees
Food environment (0-10)
7.2
10 = best access & security
Exercise access
61%
residents near a facility
Flu vaccinated
52%
of Medicare enrollees
Low birth weight (under 2,500 g) accounts for 8.6% of live births in this county — an early-life health input that downstream outcomes track against.
Based on Catawba data (2025 CHR release).
Source: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (countyhealthrankings.org). Annual release. Underlying source datasets vary by measure (CDC BRFSS, NCHS Vital Statistics, AHA, USDA Food Environment Atlas, and others). Figures are county-level and assigned to every ZIP whose primary county matches.
Food access
Food access status
Significant food access concerns
28.3% of Catawba County, NC residents live more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket.
Grocery stores
0.18
per 1,000 residents
Supercenters & clubs
0.03
per 1,000 residents
SNAP-authorized stores
1.04
accepting food benefits
Fast-food restaurants
0.86
per 1,000 residents
Among low-income residents, 9.8% are low-access — those without a supermarket within 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural).
Per-1,000 figures show how many of each store type exist in Catawba County, NC for every 1,000 residents. Higher grocery and supercenter density usually means easier access to fresh food; higher convenience-store-only density (with low grocery rate) often signals a food swamp.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Environment Atlas (ers.usda.gov). County-level metrics fanned to ZIP via the primary county in the Census ZCTA-county relationship file. Variable years differ per family (stores ~2020, low-access ~2019).
Safety
FBI publishes crime data at the county level. Numbers below cover the primary county that contains this ZIP. Rates are per 100,000 residents in the area covered by reporting agencies.
Violent crime rate
—
per 100K residents · 80 reports
Property crime rate
—
per 100K residents · 283 reports
Homicide
2
Robbery
3
Burglary
97
Vehicle theft
27
County-level data for Alexander (2024)
Source: U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Reporting Program (cde.ucr.cjis.gov). Public domain. Coverage varies by reporting agency; areas with partial agency coverage may understate true crime totals.
Who’s moving in and out
Net migration (2022-2023)
▲+2,445 people
+1,208 households • +$130.0M net AGI flow
Moved in
6,565households
11,481 people • $440.9M AGI
Moved out
5,357households
9,036 people • $310.8M AGI
Where new residents came from
- Lincoln County, NC — 509 households
- Mecklenburg County, NC — 422 households
- Burke County, NC — 421 households
- Caldwell County, NC — 359 households
- Iredell County, NC — 355 households
Where departing residents went
- Burke County, NC — 403 households
- Lincoln County, NC — 385 households
- Caldwell County, NC — 369 households
- Mecklenburg County, NC — 294 households
- Iredell County, NC — 292 households
Incoming households reported an average AGI of $67,154 versus departing households' $58,026.
Source: U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income, Migration Data (irs.gov). Public domain. Migration is measured by year-over-year changes in the address on individual tax returns; figures are county-level totals attributed to ZIPs whose primary county matches. Foreign migration contributes to inflow/outflow totals but does not appear in the top-county lists. Small flows are suppressed by IRS to protect taxpayer confidentiality.
Taxes & benefits in North Carolina
State-level rules that apply to every resident of ZIP 28601. Numbers reflect the most recent published year per source.
Tax rates
Income tax
4.25%
flat · 1 brackets
Sales tax (combined)
7.00%
State 4.75% · avg local 2.25%
Property tax (effective)
0.48%
Median $1,058/year
Tax burden rank
21 of 50
9.60% of personal income
For ZIP 28601: At this ZIP's median AGI of $86,304, the estimated state income tax (before deductions) runs about $2,201 per year. Applied to this ZIP's typical home value of $304,554, that works out to roughly $1,449/year in property tax.
Paid family leave
Program
No program
No program
Safety net
SNAP eligibility
200% FPL
Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (raises gross income limit above federal 130% floor). No asset test.
Sources: Tax Foundation (state tax rates & brackets), Bipartisan Policy Center (paid family leave), USDA FNS (SNAP categorical eligibility).
Other ZIPs near 28601
Other ZIPs in Hickory
Nearby ZIPs by distance
28667 (Rhodhiss, 5.5 mi) · 28637 (Hildebran, 6.4 mi) · 28630 (Granite Falls, 6.7 mi) · 28613 (Conover, 7.1 mi)
Compare ZIP-level stats — population, schools, housing, climate — across nearby areas. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ZCTA basemap.
Settling into Hickory?
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Data sources used on this page
SourcesFresh.CDC PLACES · Apr 24, 2026Fresh.NCES CCD via Urban Institute EDP · Apr 27, 2026Fresh.HUD SAFMR · May 1, 2026
All data on this page is sourced from federal government datasets · Not AI-generated · Methodology
Health profile
Crude prevalence estimates from CDC PLACES, derived from BRFSS small-area modeling. Population-level figures only.
Obesity
36.1%
3.1pp above the 33.0% national rate.
High Blood Pressure
36.6%
4.6pp above the 32.0% national rate.
Depression
25.6%
3.6pp above the 22.0% national rate.
Annual Checkup
79.4%
3.4pp above the 76.0% national rate.
Health Insurance
10.4%
2.6pp below the 13.0% national rate.
Diabetes
11.6%
Tracks close to the 11.0% national rate.
Schools in this ZIP
12 schools serve this ZIP, including 12 non-charter.
| School | Type | Grades | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Stephens High | Public | 9–12 | 1,165 |
| Hickory High | Public | 9–13 | 1,012 |
| Harry M Arndt Middle | Public | 7–8 | 655 |
| Snow Creek Elementary | Public | -1–6 | 536 |
| Northview Middle | Public | 6–8 | 534 |
Showing top 5 by enrollment. 7 more schools serve this ZIP.
Schools listed from NCES Common Core of Data via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal.
Fresh.NCES CCD via Urban Institute EDP · Apr 27, 2026Colleges & universities nearby
Colleges in this area
9
Median in-state tuition
$2,646
Median earnings (10 yr)
$35,853
- 4-Year
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Hickory, NC · 28601
- In-state tuition
- $31,900
- Out-of-state tuition
- $31,900
- Acceptance rate
- 84.6%
- Graduation rate
- 49.2%
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $45,543
- Median student debt
- $26,000
- 4-Year
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC · 28608
- In-state tuition
- $7,579
- Out-of-state tuition
- $25,212
- Acceptance rate
- 90.1%
- Graduation rate
- 73.8%
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $51,836
- Median student debt
- $20,231
- 2-Year
Catawba Valley Community College
Hickory, NC · 28602
- In-state tuition
- $2,427
- Out-of-state tuition
- $7,803
- Acceptance rate
- —
- Graduation rate
- 35.4%
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $36,977
- Median student debt
- $4,938
- 2-Year
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
Hudson, NC · 28638
- In-state tuition
- $2,526
- Out-of-state tuition
- $6,526
- Acceptance rate
- —
- Graduation rate
- 42.0%
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $34,515
- Median student debt
- $8,750
- 2-Year
Mitchell Community College
Statesville, NC · 28677
- In-state tuition
- $2,641
- Out-of-state tuition
- $8,785
- Acceptance rate
- —
- Graduation rate
- 22.5%
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $33,298
- Median student debt
- —
- 2-Year
Wilkes Community College
Wilkesboro, NC · 28697
- In-state tuition
- $2,572
- Out-of-state tuition
- $8,716
- Acceptance rate
- —
- Graduation rate
- 53.8%
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $34,728
- Median student debt
- $7,625
- 2-Year
Western Piedmont Community College
Morganton, NC · 28655
- In-state tuition
- $2,650
- Out-of-state tuition
- $8,794
- Acceptance rate
- —
- Graduation rate
- 42.6%
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $34,195
- Median student debt
- —
- 4-Year
Lees-McRae College
Banner Elk, NC · 28604
- In-state tuition
- $33,250
- Out-of-state tuition
- $33,250
- Acceptance rate
- 76.8%
- Graduation rate
- 43.1%
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $43,415
- Median student debt
- $17,375
- 4-Year
Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine
Sugar Grove, NC · 28679
- In-state tuition
- —
- Out-of-state tuition
- —
- Acceptance rate
- —
- Graduation rate
- —
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- —
- Median student debt
- —
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (collegescorecard.ed.gov). Public domain data. Earnings figures reflect median earnings 10 years after entry for federally-aided students.
What these numbers say together
Hickory, NC (ZIP 28601) sits in Catawba County within the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metro area. The page draws on 2 federal data feeds retrieved Apr 27. Top health signal: High Blood Pressure comes in above the national average at 36.6%. NCES lists 12 schools serving the area, 12 non-charter. 9 colleges and universities serve the area, with median in-state tuition of $2,646. IRS data shows average household income (AGI) of $86,304, well above the ~$45K national average per return. FEMA has issued 28 federal disaster declarations affecting this ZIP since 1974 — a high-frequency exposure profile. Annual precipitation averages 52.6" — a wet-climate ZCTA per NOAA's 1991–2020 Normals. County Health Rankings reports 11,084 years of potential life lost per 100,000 (2025) — well above the national county median. 28.3% of residents in this county are flagged low-access by USDA's 2025 Food Environment Atlas — a notable supermarket-access gap. North Carolina levies a flat state income tax (top rate 4.25%); a household at the local median AGI of $86,304 would pay roughly $2,201/year before deductions. IRS migration data (2022-2023) shows a net gain of 2,445 residents (1,208 households) — the ZIP's primary county is growing. Healthcare access and school options both run strong here, giving residents a wide menu of providers and enrollment choices nearby. Notable: median household income $65,158, fair market rent of $1,260 for a two-bedroom, and a typical home value of $304,554, up 2.1% over the past year. Every figure on this page links to its underlying federal dataset with a retrieval date so you can audit the freshness yourself.
These two readings tell a consistent story. Strong access numbers usually correlate with denser provider networks, and a high school count signals the population base that supports them. Reading them together: a household weighing this ZIP for a multi-year stay can expect both healthcare and education infrastructure to keep pace.
One concrete reading worth keeping: Depression prevalence sits higher the national rate at 25.6%. Each figure on this page links to the original federal dataset with its retrieval date — this synthesis is a reading, not a substitute for the underlying records.
Frequently Asked Questions — ZIP 28601
What is the obesity rate in ZIP 28601?
36.1%, which is 3.1 percentage points above the national average of 33.0% (CDC PLACES, retrieved Apr 24, 2026).
What is the depression rate in ZIP 28601?
25.6%, which is 3.6 percentage points above the national average of 22.0% (CDC PLACES, retrieved Apr 24, 2026).
What is the high blood pressure rate in ZIP 28601?
36.6%, which is 4.6 percentage points above the national average of 32.0% (CDC PLACES, retrieved Apr 24, 2026).
How many schools are in ZIP 28601?
12 schools serve this ZIP, including 12 public schools (NCES CCD, retrieved Apr 27, 2026). No charter schools are listed in this ZIP by NCES CCD.
Does ZIP 28601 have charter schools?
No charter schools are listed in ZIP 28601 by NCES CCD (retrieved Apr 27, 2026).
Are there high schools in ZIP 28601?
Yes, 2 high schools serve this ZIP: Saint Stephens High, Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School. (NCES CCD, retrieved Apr 27, 2026).
What is the population of ZIP 28601?
53,172 people live in ZIP 28601, with a median age of 40.3 (Census ACS 5-Year 2022, retrieved Apr 30, 2026).
What is the median household income in ZIP 28601?
$65,158 per year (Census ACS 5-Year 2022, retrieved Apr 30, 2026).
Is ZIP 28601 mostly renters or homeowners?
In ZIP 28601, 65.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 34.6% are renter-occupied (Census ACS 5-Year 2022, retrieved Apr 30, 2026).
How do people commute in ZIP 28601?
In ZIP 28601, 6.3% of workers work from home. Public transit is used by 0.3% of commuters (Census ACS 5-Year 2022, retrieved Apr 30, 2026).
What is the poverty rate in ZIP 28601?
12.1% of the population in ZIP 28601 lives below the federal poverty line (Census ACS 5-Year 2022, retrieved Apr 30, 2026).
What percentage of households in ZIP 28601 have broadband internet?
88.7% of households in ZIP 28601 have broadband internet access (Census ACS 5-Year 2022, retrieved Apr 30, 2026).
What is the typical home value in ZIP 28601?
The typical home value in ZIP 28601 is $304,554, up 2.1% from a year ago (Zillow Home Value Index, retrieved May 1, 2026).
Are home values rising or falling in ZIP 28601?
Home values are up 2.1% over the past year and up 39.4% over the past five years (Zillow Home Value Index, retrieved May 1, 2026).
What is the average household income in ZIP 28601?
The average Adjusted Gross Income reported on tax returns from ZIP 28601 (Hickory, NC) is $86,304 per return (IRS SOI Tax Year 2022, retrieved May 2, 2026).
How much do homeowners pay in property tax in ZIP 28601?
Tax returns from ZIP 28601 report an average of $306 per return in real-estate tax deductions (IRS SOI Tax Year 2022, retrieved May 2, 2026).
What percentage of residents in ZIP 28601 earn over $200,000?
7.0% of tax returns from ZIP 28601 (Hickory, NC) report Adjusted Gross Income of $200,000 or more (IRS SOI Tax Year 2022, retrieved May 2, 2026).
How many businesses are in ZIP 28601?
As of 2022, 1,392 business establishments operated in ZIP 28601 employing 23,964 workers (Census ZIP Business Patterns, retrieved May 3, 2026).
What is the average salary in ZIP 28601?
The average annual pay across all local establishments in ZIP 28601 is $50,493, based on Census ZIP Business Patterns 2022 data (retrieved May 3, 2026).
How vulnerable is ZIP 28601 to disasters and public health emergencies?
According to the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (2022), ZIP 28601 ranks in the 56th percentile nationally for social vulnerability — a high vulnerability profile (retrieved May 3, 2026).
What is the biggest vulnerability factor in ZIP 28601?
Household Characteristics is the highest-scoring CDC SVI theme for ZIP 28601, ranking in the 57th percentile nationally (CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022, retrieved May 3, 2026).
How many federally declared disasters has ZIP 28601 experienced?
FEMA has recorded 28 federal disaster declarations affecting ZIP 28601 between 1974–2026 (FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations, retrieved Jul 1, 2026).
What kinds of disasters most often hit ZIP 28601?
Hurricane is the most common federally declared disaster type affecting ZIP 28601, accounting for 8 of 28 declarations (29%, FEMA OpenFEMA, retrieved Jul 1, 2026).
What was the most recent disaster declared for ZIP 28601?
The most recent FEMA disaster declaration affecting ZIP 28601 was "SEVERE WINTER STORM" — a winter storm declared in 2026 (DR-3637) (FEMA OpenFEMA, retrieved Jul 1, 2026).
What colleges are near ZIP 28601?
9 colleges and universities are listed near ZIP 28601 by the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, including Lenoir-Rhyne University, Appalachian State University, and Catawba Valley Community College (retrieved May 2, 2026).
What is the average tuition at colleges near ZIP 28601?
Median in-state tuition across 9 nearby institutions is $2,646 (College Scorecard, retrieved May 2, 2026).
What do graduates earn from colleges near ZIP 28601?
Graduates of nearby colleges earn a median of $35,853 ten years after entry (College Scorecard, retrieved May 2, 2026).
What is the climate like in ZIP 28601?
ZIP 28601 has an average annual temperature of 58.3°F and 52.6" of annual precipitation based on the TAYLORSVILLE, NC US weather station 13.5 miles from the ZIP centroid (NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals, retrieved May 8, 2026).
Does ZIP 28601 have public transit?
Yes — ZIP 28601 is part of the Hickory, NC urbanized area, primarily served by Western Piedmont Regional Transit Authority (National Transit Database 2024, retrieved May 4, 2026).
What hospitals are in ZIP 28601?
1 hospital is located in ZIP 28601 1 is rated by CMS, with an average overall rating of 2.0 out of 5 stars (CMS Hospital Compare, 2024).
What taxes apply in ZIP 28601?
North Carolina has a flat income tax with a top rate of 4.25%. Households at the local median AGI of $86,304 would pay roughly $2,201 in state income tax annually (estimated, before deductions). Combined sales tax: 7.00% (Tax Foundation 2025).
Does North Carolina have paid family leave?
North Carolina has no state paid family leave program (Bipartisan Policy Center 2026).
What data is available for ZIP 28601?
This page covers health outcomes from CDC PLACES (40 metrics), school information from NCES CCD (12 schools), demographics from the Census ACS 5-Year (2022), home values from the Zillow Home Value Index, colleges from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (9 institutions), income & tax statistics from the IRS SOI (Tax Year 2022), local business & employment from Census ZIP Business Patterns (2022), social vulnerability scores from the CDC/ATSDR SVI (2022), federal disaster declarations from FEMA OpenFEMA (28 on record), climate normals from NOAA NCEI (1991-2020), county-level crime data from the FBI Crime Data Explorer (2024), public transit coverage from the National Transit Database (2024), hospitals from CMS Hospital Compare, and state-level tax rates from the Tax Foundation. Data is refreshed on Mubboo's standard schedule.
How current is this data?
Health data retrieved Apr 24, 2026 from CDC PLACES. School data retrieved Apr 27, 2026 from NCES CCD. Demographics retrieved Apr 30, 2026 from Census ACS 5-Year (2022). Home values retrieved May 1, 2026 from Zillow Research. College data retrieved May 2, 2026 from U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard. Income & tax statistics retrieved May 2, 2026 from IRS SOI (Tax Year 2022). Business & employment retrieved May 3, 2026 from Census ZBP (2022). Social vulnerability scores retrieved May 3, 2026 from CDC/ATSDR SVI (2022). Federal disaster declarations retrieved Jul 1, 2026 from FEMA OpenFEMA (28 on record). Climate normals retrieved May 8, 2026 from NOAA NCEI (1991-2020). County-level crime data retrieved May 4, 2026 from the FBI Crime Data Explorer (2024). Transit coverage retrieved May 4, 2026 from the National Transit Database (2024). State-level tax rates retrieved 2026-05-05 15:58:22.284+00 from the Tax Foundation.
Other ZIPs near 28601
Other ZIPs in Hickory
Nearby ZIPs by distance
28667 (Rhodhiss, 5.5 mi) · 28637 (Hildebran, 6.4 mi) · 28630 (Granite Falls, 6.7 mi) · 28613 (Conover, 7.1 mi)
Compare ZIP-level stats — population, schools, housing, climate — across nearby areas. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ZCTA basemap.
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Data refreshed via Mubboo's ETL pipeline; oldest source on this page retrieved Apr 24, 2026.
Social Vulnerability Index
Overall SVI
56th percentile
High Vulnerability
Based on 19 census tracts, population 53,256
Vulnerability Themes
Households Without Vehicle
1,223
Limited English Speakers
1,205
Persons with Disability
7,230
Without HS Diploma
3,681
Without Health Insurance
5,642
Adults Age 65+
9,610
The Social Vulnerability Index uses U.S. Census data to identify communities most at risk during public health emergencies and natural disasters. Higher percentiles indicate greater vulnerability. Tract-level scores are aggregated to this ZCTA via Census 2020 ZCTA→Tract crosswalk, weighted by land-area share. Source: atsdr.cdc.gov. Public domain.