How many renters in Hickory, NC pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Hickory, NC, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

40.3% (±5.7 points) of renting households in Hickory, NC spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

28.5% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 26.0% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 40.3% (±5.7 points)
Paying 35% or more: 28.5% (±4.6 points)
Median share of income: 26.0% (±1.9 points)

Rent as a share of income in Hickory

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Hickory	Catawba County	North Carolina	United States
Less than 15%	18.5% (±4.4 points)	18.8%	14.1%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	11.3% (±3.4 points)	12.3%	12.6%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	17.9% (±4.8 points)	16.6%	13.2%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	12.0% (±3.8 points)	11.4%	11.3%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	11.8% (±3.4 points)	12.3%	9.3%	9.2%
35% or more	28.5% (±4.6 points)	28.7%	39.6%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Hickory against Catawba County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Hickory	Catawba County	North Carolina	United States
Paying 30% or more	40.3% (±5.7 points)	41.0% (±4.0 points)	48.9% (±0.6 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	28.5% (±4.6 points)	28.7% (±3.1 points)	39.6% (±0.5 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	26.0% (±1.9 points)	26.1% (±1.6 points)	29.5% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$44,610 (±$4,559)	$43,271 (±$4,215)	$48,010 (±$418)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,063 (±$63)	$965 (±$41)	$1,228 (±$5)	$1,413

In Hickory, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Catawba County (41.0%).

It is also lower than in North Carolina (48.9%).

It is lower than the national figure (51.1%).

In Catawba County, Hickory ranks 8 of 11 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 451 of 650.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Hickory

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Hickory
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Hickory	—	40.3% (±5.7 points)	—
Brookford	2.9 mi	45.6% (±33.5 points)	Not measurably different
St. Stephens	3.2 mi	60.6% (±21.7 points)	Not measurably different
Long View	3.8 mi	37.7% (±18.0 points)	Not measurably different
Northlakes	3.9 mi	100.0% (±113.0 points)	Not measurably different
Mountain View	4.8 mi	54.0% (±31.5 points)	Not measurably different
Bethlehem	5.5 mi	44.3% (±48.1 points)	Not measurably different
Hildebran	5.8 mi	38.2% (±19.2 points)	Not measurably different
Conover	6.0 mi	55.4% (±19.9 points)	Not measurably different

None of the nearby places differs measurably from this one on this figure.

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Catawba County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
2	Conover	55.4% (±19.9 points)
3	Mountain View	54.0% (±31.5 points)
4	Brookford	45.6% (±33.5 points)
5	Newton	45.3% (±14.2 points)
6	Catawba	45.0% (±81.2 points)
7	Lake Norman of Catawba	40.7% (±18.3 points)
8	Hickory	40.3% (±5.7 points)
9	Long View	37.7% (±18.0 points)
10	Claremont	22.5% (±15.9 points)
11	Maiden	4.5% (±14.8 points)

Showing 10 of 11 places in Catawba County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Hickory

Are renters in Hickory rent-burdened?

40.3% of renting households in Hickory pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Hickory spend on rent?

The median renting household in Hickory, NC spends 26.0% (±1.9 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Hickory city, North Carolina (place:31060, in state:37).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.