Downtown Hickory is the beating heart of a small city in North Carolina’s Piedmont region that’s attracted attention from across the country, first as a manufacturer of furniture and now as a highly livable community. In 2023, Travel + Leisure named Hickory the “most beautiful and affordable place to live in the U.S.,” a distinction residents are not only proud to hold, but now accustomed to. Hickory is indeed a familiar name on these lists, also named the “World’s Greatest City” by How 2 Media. “Hickory’s a cute little town that’s grown so much in the past five years – a lot more than in the past 10,” says Hope Rogers, Realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. “Hickory’s not a slow town, but it’s not a fast paced one either. You feel a sweetness in this town, and I think that’s drawn a lot of people in.” Between the walkable downtown stocked with local businesses and events, from farmer’s markets to live concerts, Hickory might fulfil some home buyers' visions of an exemplary small town. Downtown Hickory does score a 9 out of 10 on the CAP Index crime score for burglary, higher than the national average of 4. But other CAP Index stats such as robbery are lower, making for an overall crime score of 7 compared to the national average of 4.
Locals enjoy the walkability of Downtown Hickory.
Downtown Hickory shops and restaurants close proximity increase the walkability of the area.
Downtown Hickory provides a weekly farmers market year round in Union Square.
Downtown Hickory locals have easy access to the River Walk and more outdoor adventures.
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Seasonal events at Union Square
Oktoberfest is arguably the town’s premier event, according to Mike Kelly Jr., broker at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills and two-decade resident of Hickory. This weekend-long festival celebrates the community’s German heritage with musical performances, vendors and beer gardens. The Sails on the Square music series takes place over the summer nearly every week, with residents bringing lawn chairs and blankets to Union Square to listen to live music from country singers to cover bands. Vendors set up shop at Union Square each Wednesday and Saturday for the Downtown Hickory Farmer’s Market.
Downtown Hickory residents can catch a Crawdad's game at the L.P. Frans Stadium nearby.,
Downtown Hickory residents have easy access to a variety of seasonal events and activities.
There are a multiple parks and public pools surrounding Downtown Hickory.
Downtown Hickory celebrates with season decor and events throughout the area.
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Downtown’s brimming with local businesses
New businesses have been flooding into Hickory, and many of them are keeping close to downtown. “Over the past five years, they’ve transformed a lot of abandoned buildings into the coolest restaurants and little shops. If you’re taking the City Walk path, it will lead you to ones that have been renovated into gyms, ice cream parlors and more,” Rogers says. A former railroad depot, the Olde Hickory Station serves up beer, wine and American dishes, offering a dog-friendly patio and a market with cheeses, desserts and other locally made delicacies. “Every time you see a train come by, you close your eyes and make a wish,” Rogers says. “I don’t know if I heard that from someone or made it up myself!” Stores such as Aldi and Home Depot can be found by US Highway 321, as well as at Valley Hills Mall. “There’s a high concentration of retail by the interstate. Traffic can get busy on weekends and during the holiday season,” Kelly says. One of the more intriguing marketplaces is the Hickory Furniture Mart, a four-story “mall” comprised of dozens of furniture stores. Kelly says that shoppers will come to Hickory specifically to look for home fixtures, just as they did when Hickory became famous for manufacturing them in the early 1900s.
The Hickory Furniture Mart features the history of the industry that built Downtown Hickory.
Olde Hickory Station is a popular destination for locals and visitors of Downtown Hickory.
The Hickory Wine Shoppe is a popular place for residents to gather in Downtown Hickory.
Tasteful Beans is a popular coffee shop for residents and visitors of Downtown Hickory.
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Detached homes and plenty of apartments on the way
Bungalows, Colonial Revivals and other detached residential homes can be found primarily on the northwest corner of downtown by 2nd Avenue Northwest, though several have been converted into businesses. They enter the market very rarely and typically sell between $350,000 and $600,000. Apartment complexes include Center Crossing, for 55+ residents, and One North Center, which is in development and will offer 95 units, and ground-level commercial space. “A lot of people are drawn to Hickory because it’s more affordable than the aggressive market in Charlotte,” Rogers says.
Historic colonial style homes add to the charm of the Downtown Hickory neighborhood.
Many of the homes in Downtown Hickory have been restored and updated to modern standards.
The homes of Downtown Hickory create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Downtown Hickory has continued to be reinvigorated by new growth, residents and businesses.
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Colleges and diverse grade schools
Oakwood Elementary is less than a mile’s walk from most residences, while Northview Middle and Hickory High are further up 2nd Street Northeast/North Center Street. Oakwood Elementary and Northview Middle both receive overall B-plus ratings from Niche, scoring an A and A-plus for diversity, respectively. B-rated Hickory High has recently seen a surge in athletic success, the football and boys’ tennis teams both winning the 3A state championships in 2023. Lenoir-Rhyne University, a private Lutheran university with undergraduate and graduate programs, and Appalachian State University at Hickory, which recently opened in Fall 2023, are both within a mile of Downtown Hickory. Catawba Valley Community College is known for its manufacturing and furniture academies, partnering with local and regional businesses to give students hands-on training.
The glass structure is a nice addition to Oakwood Elementary School.
The entrance to Hickory High School.
Claremont residents are just blocks from the popular Lenoir Rhyne University stadium.
Northview Middle School welcomes and prepares the youth of Hickory for high school.
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Boating on the lake and playing in the parks
Just a few miles north is Lake Hickory, a manmade body of water popular for outdoor recreation. “Different sections of the Catawba River were dammed for power generation, and Lake Hickory is the closest one to us,” says Kelly. “People like to have fun on the lake, and they’ll ride jet skis and pontoon boats and tie up their boats by the shallow sandbar. When you’re out there, you feel disconnected from everything.” Lakeside Marina is about a 6-mile drive north, offering boat rentals and boat storage. Lowes Foods City Park was developed by the Friends of Hickory, located just across from Union Square. The enclosed playground lets children play musical instruments, explore modern play equipment and cool off on the splash pad. Glenn C. Hilton Jr. Memorial Park spans roughly 70 acres, and is a popular spot for exercise and outdoor gatherings. “They have a walkway over the marsh where people can fish, kayak and feed the ducks. Every time I go there, I see families doing cookouts,” Rogers says. “It’s a safe space. They close it at 9 p.m. every day, and it’s closely monitored.”
There are many access points for Lake Hickory in the area including Geitner-Rotary Park.
Downtown Hickory residents can enjoy the sprawling and beautiful Lake Hickory close by.
Lowe's Foods Park features an iconic globe jungle gym that is a main attraction for youngsters.
Locals enjoy time at the many trails, parks and more surrounding Downtown Hickory.
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Local buses and an interstate
The Greenway Public Transportation transit center is located a quarter mile south of Union Square. The seven lines of the bus go as north as the Food Lion in Viewmont and as southeast as Conover and Newton. “The bus is very low cost and has stops all over town. It’s under-utilized, but it serves a niche for people who don’t have a car,” Kelly says. Most lines run hourly. Interstate 40, a major east-west highway, is a 4-mile drive away, and Frye Regional Medical Center is a half mile north of Union Square.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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Looking for a lot to develop, a place to establish your business? This lot is a great place to start. The price is right for you to take the next step and become a developer. For more information on what the lot can be used for, click this link. https://www.hickorync.gov/zoning-districts Because Norfolk-Southern Railroad joins this parcel, please note the setbacks are 200 ft on either side of
One North Center offers a contemporary pedestrian lifestyle in the heart of Hickory's revitalized downtown with one, two and three-bedroom floorplans. Features include open designs, 9-ft ceilings, lavish baths and abundant natural light. Come live the life you deserve at One North Center.
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
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Angela Gribble,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
353
Median Age
45
Population Density
3 ppl/acre
Population under 18
20.7%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
20.7%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$96,982
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$118,044
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
95.5%
College Graduates
58.3%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
30.7%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
65%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
47''
Average Winter Low Temperature
31°F
Average Summer High Temperature
87°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
41/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
71/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
