Asheville or Hickory: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Hickory wins on more indicators: 6 of 11 against 4.
- Money: Hickory 1:3
- Climate and risks: tie 3:3
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Asheville
Indicator
Hickory
Money
Better: Hickory (1 : 3)Per capita income
higher is better
✓$67,592
202422% higher
✗$55,363
202418% lower
Typical rent
lower is better
✗$1,702
2026-09-307% higher
✓$1,595
2026-09-306% lower
Typical home value
lower is better
✗$416,031
2026-09-3056% higher
✓$266,722
2026-09-3036% lower
Price level
lower is better
✗96.5 100 = US average
20249% higher
✓88.5 100 = US average
20248% lower
Climate and risks
Tie (3 : 3)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✗48 AQI
20244% higher
✓46 AQI
20244% lower
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✗1 days per year
2024
✓0 days per year
2024
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✓61 days per year
2016-202525% lower
✗81 days per year
2016-202533% higher
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
lower is better
✗4 days per year
2016-202513% higher
✓3 days per year
2016-202511% lower
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
tie
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
5 days per year
2016-2025
2 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,881 °C·days per year
2016-2025
1,889 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
746 °C·days per year
2016-2025
837 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
100 days per year
2016-2025
104 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2 days per year
2016-2025
1 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,128 mm per year
2016-2025
1,409 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.7 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.7 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
14.6 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
14.6 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
70 %
2021-2025
68 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✓24 days per year
2021-202559% lower
✗59 days per year
2021-2025147% higher
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
383 km
2006-2025
317 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
lower is better
✓0.00 per year
2006-2025
✗0.05 per year
2006-2025
Strongest earthquake in the period
no data for one of the places
no data
5.1 magnitude
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
422,333 people
2024
373,031 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Asheville, Hickory.