MetricHickory, NCNewton, NC
Population44,25813,333
Median Household Income$64,576$62,015
Median Rent$1,063/mo$1,091/mo
Median Home Value$278,400$186,300
Cost of Living (US = 100)8989
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income37.1%42.9%
Poverty Rate17.1%12%
Unemployment Rate3.9%3.7% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k561439
Property Crime Rate /100k2,9102,362
Median AQI4242
Good AQI Days /yr239239
Summer Highs86°F87°F
Winter Lows32°F33°F
Snowfall0 in/yr0 in/yr
Avg Commute21.1 min21.7 min
Hospitals2—
Avg Hospital Rating2.0 / 5—
Students per Teacher1615.9
College Degree Rate37.1%21%
Foreign-Born %9.6%9.6%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+5.4%+5.3%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.