Hickory, NC vs Jacksonville, NC

Hickory is moderately more affordable than Jacksonville, with a 5.9% lower cost of living index. Hickory scores 81 compared to 86 for Jacksonville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Jacksonville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Hickory is $975/month compared to $1,268/month in Jacksonville — a 23% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Hickory has cheaper rent, Jacksonville actually has lower median home values ($191,700 vs $248,300).

Median household income in Hickory is $63,361 compared to $54,069 in Jacksonville (+17.2%). Hickory offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Hickory spend roughly 18.5% of their income on rent, less than the 28.1% in Jacksonville.