Rankings
US News & World Report named the Hickory MSA as 7th in the nation for most desirable counties to move to. (January 2026)
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National Van Lines ranked the Hickory MSA as 9th in the nation for in-bound migration in their 2024 National Movers Study. (January 2025)
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Southern Living Magazine listed Hickory, North Carolina, among the top 10 most affordable places to retire in the South. (October 2024)
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Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com ranked the Hickory MSA #11 Among Top Housing Markets in America. (July 2024)
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US News & World Report ranked the Hickory MSA as #6 in their list of Most Affordable Places to Live in the US. (May 2024)
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USA Today readers ranked Hickory as having the 9th best main street in the US. (April 2024)
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The City of Hickory was selected as the “World’s Greatest City” by How 2 Media and featured on the national television series “World’s Greatest!…” airing on Bloomberg TV. (December 2023)
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US News & World Report ranked the Hickory MSA as #1 in their list of Most Affordable Places to Live in the US for the second year in a row. (May 2023)
US News & World Report named the Hickory MSA as #3 in Best Places to Live in North Carolina and 25th in Best Places to Live in the US. (May 2023)
Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com ranked the Hickory MSA as the 16th most up and coming real estate market in the US making us #1 in the Carolinas. (Apr. 2023)
Travel & Leisure Magazine ranked Hickory, NC as the #1 Most Beautiful and Affordable Place to Live in the US. (Mar. 2023)
United Van Lines recognized the Hickory MSA as #15 in the nation for inbound moves. (Jan. 2023)
Business Facilities Magazine ranked the Hickory MSA as #8 in their list of Mid-Size Manufacturing Hubs. (Jul./Aug. 2022)
US News & World Report ranked the Hickory MSA as #1 in their list of Most Affordable Places to Live in the US. (May 2022)
US News & World Report named the Hickory MSA as #3 in Best Places to Live in North Carolina and 31st in Best Places to Live in the US. (May 2022)​