Hickory or Winston: which is better?

US metro area: head-to-head comparison

Hickory
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
4
indicators ahead
Winner
Winston
Winston-Salem, NC
5
indicators ahead

Winston wins on more indicators: 5 of 12 against 4.

  • Money: tie 2:2
  • Climate and risks: Winston 2:3

All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.

Hickory
Winston

Money

Tie (2 : 2)
Per capita income
higher is better
✗$55,363
20248% lower
✓$60,408
20249% higher
Typical rent
lower is better
✗$1,595
2026-09-304% higher
✓$1,529
2026-09-304% lower
Typical home value
lower is better
✓$266,722
2026-09-304% lower
✗$277,512
2026-09-304% higher
Price level
lower is better
✓88.5 100 = US average
20244% lower
✗92.0 100 = US average
20244% higher

Climate and risks

Better: Winston (2 : 3)
Air: median AQI
lower is better
✓46 AQI
20248% lower
✗50 AQI
20249% higher
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✓0 days per year
2024
✗4 days per year
2024
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✗81 days per year
2016-20255% higher
✓77 days per year
2016-20255% lower
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
lower is better
✗3 days per year
2016-202594% higher
✓2 days per year
2016-202548% 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
2 days per year
2016-2025
3 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,889 °C·days per year
2016-2025
1,738 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
837 °C·days per year
2016-2025
958 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
104 days per year
2016-2025
94 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1 days per year
2016-2025
2 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,409 mm per year
2016-2025
1,255 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
68 %
2021-2025
67 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✗59 days per year
2021-202513% higher
✓52 days per year
2021-202512% lower
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
317 km
2006-2025
288 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
tie
0.05 per year
2006-2025
0.05 per year
2006-2025
Strongest earthquake in the period
tie
5.1 magnitude
2006-2025
5.1 magnitude
2006-2025

Urban environment

no winner
Population
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
373,031 people
2024
705,187 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: Hickory, Winston.

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