ZIP Code 28602 · Hickory, NC
Catawba County · pop 31,113 · ACS 2020–2024
The median household income in ZIP Code 28602 (Hickory, NC) is $62,048, higher than 42% of the other ZIP Codes in North Carolina.
Its FHFA home price index changed +70.2% over the five years to 2025.
01 — Where it stands
| Measure | Value | County percentile | State percentile | U.S. percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $62,048 ± $7,330 | 12th percentile (9 ZIP Codes compared) | 42nd percentile (689 ZIP Codes compared) | 30th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Per capita income | $32,255 | 12th percentile (9 ZIP Codes compared) | 40th percentile (689 ZIP Codes compared) | 30th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Poverty rate | 16.8% | 100th percentile (9 ZIP Codes compared) | 70th percentile (689 ZIP Codes compared) | 74th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher | 20.3% | 25th percentile (9 ZIP Codes compared) | 39th percentile (689 ZIP Codes compared) | 34th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Owner-occupied homes | 62.9% | 0th percentile (9 ZIP Codes compared) | 19th percentile (689 ZIP Codes compared) | 21st percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Housing vacancy rate | 10.2% | 50th percentile (9 ZIP Codes compared) | 39th percentile (689 ZIP Codes compared) | 53rd percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Median home value | $212,900 ± $15,359 | 12th percentile (9 ZIP Codes compared) | 43rd percentile (684 ZIP Codes compared) | 40th percentile (22,833 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Median gross rent | $896 | 37th percentile (9 ZIP Codes compared) | 39th percentile (688 ZIP Codes compared) | 31st percentile (22,865 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Income inequality (Gini index) | 0.438 | 62nd percentile (9 ZIP Codes compared) | 51st percentile (689 ZIP Codes compared) | 56th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Average adjusted gross income per return | $58,934 | 0th percentile (9 ZIP Codes compared) | 39th percentile (675 ZIP Codes compared) | 27th percentile (22,230 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Returns with AGI of $200,000 or more | 3.0% | 25th percentile (9 ZIP Codes compared) | 48th percentile (675 ZIP Codes compared) | 38th percentile (22,230 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Home price index, 5-year change | +70.2% | 87th percentile (9 ZIP Codes compared) | 73rd percentile (576 ZIP Codes compared) | 87th percentile (18,843 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Business establishments per 1,000 residents | 41.2 | 100th percentile (9 ZIP Codes compared) | 93rd percentile (685 ZIP Codes compared) | 91st percentile (22,700 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Average annual pay per employee | $52,974 | 62nd percentile (9 ZIP Codes compared) | 75th percentile (683 ZIP Codes compared) | 63rd percentile (22,551 ZIP Codes compared) |
Percentile groups: Catawba County · North Carolina · U.S. Hover a percentile for the number of ZIP Codes compared. MOE = 90% margin of error.
02 — Home prices
Home price index — ZIP Code 28602
FHFA ZIP Code index (2000 = 100) — annual, developmental, not seasonally adjusted.
Data table
| Year | Index | Annual change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 100.0 | +6.3% |
| 2001 | 104.6 | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 105.0 | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 106.8 | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 108.1 | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 111.9 | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 113.7 | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 119.1 | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 119.5 | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 118.9 | −0.5% |
| 2010 | 114.7 | −3.5% |
| 2011 | 110.6 | −3.5% |
| 2012 | 109.1 | −1.4% |
| 2013 | 107.6 | −1.4% |
| 2014 | 110.9 | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 108.8 | −1.9% |
| 2016 | 114.0 | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 121.8 | +6.8% |
| 2018 | 125.9 | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 136.4 | +8.4% |
| 2020 | 143.5 | +5.2% |
| 2021 | 162.6 | +13.3% |
| 2022 | 194.0 | +19.3% |
| 2023 | 225.8 | +16.4% |
| 2024 | 240.0 | +6.3% |
| 2025 | 244.2 | +1.8% |
03 — Nearby ZIP Codes
| ZIP | Place | Distance | Median household income | Median home value | Poverty rate | 5-yr HPI change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28602 | Hickory, NC | this ZIP Code | $62,048 | $212,900 | 16.8% | +70.2% |
| 28637 | Hildebran, NC | 3.7 mi | $67,500 | $197,900 | 14.7% | +82.2% |
| 28666 | Icard, NC | 5.8 mi | $52,342 | $178,900 | 78.8% | +72.7% |
| 28667 | Rhodhiss, NC | 7.4 mi | $26,354 | $121,900 | 25.6% | +59.8% |
| 28601 | Hickory, NC | 7.5 mi | $67,817 | $261,600 | 12.4% | +60.4% |
| 28658 | Newton, NC | 8.6 mi | $72,042 | $214,000 | 9.5% | +63.5% |
| 28168 | Vale, NC | 8.7 mi | $61,220 | $205,000 | 14.2% | +67.9% |
Up to six nearest ZIP Code Tabulation Areas within 30 miles, by straight-line distance between Census center points (2024 Gazetteer).
04 — Business mix
| Sector | Establishments | Share of ZIP | U.S. share | Relative concentration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 265 | 20.7% | 12.4% | 1.7× |
| Other services | 148 | 11.5% | 9.5% | 1.2× |
| Accommodation & food services | 144 | 11.2% | 9.3% | 1.2× |
| Health care & social assistance | 141 | 11.0% | 11.9% | 0.9× |
| Manufacturing | 98 | 7.6% | 3.3% | 2.3× |
| Wholesale trade | 88 | 6.9% | 4.4% | 1.5× |
| Construction | 84 | 6.5% | 9.6% | 0.7× |
| Professional, scientific & technical services | 70 | 5.5% | 11.7% | 0.5× |
| Real estate & rental | 65 | 5.1% | 5.5% | 0.9× |
| Finance & insurance | 64 | 5.0% | 5.5% | 0.9× |
| All other sectors | 112 | 8.7% | 14.1% | 0.6× |
Counts are establishments (business locations), not jobs. Relative concentration = the sector’s share of establishments here divided by its share in the U.S. (1.0× = the same share). Average pay is shown only where at least 20 employees are reported. ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023.
05 — About this data
How percentiles are calculated
Percentiles compare this ZIP Code with other ZIP Codes in the same county, the same state and the whole country. Only ZIP Codes with their own American Community Survey estimate, a population of at least 1,000 and a published median household income are compared, and only those with a value for the measure. A percentile of 64th means the value is higher than 64% of the other ZIP Codes in that group (0 is the lowest value, 100 the highest); it describes the size of a number, not a judgment about the area. County and state percentiles are left blank when the group has fewer than 5 ZIP Codes. The number of ZIP Codes compared is shown with each percentile.
Census figures are published for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, which approximate USPS ZIP Code delivery areas; values shown as — are not published or are suppressed by the source.
Use of this page
Area statistics only. These figures describe a ZIP Code area — not any person or household — and do not rate the area or the people who live there. CoverFi is not a consumer reporting agency; do not use this page to make decisions about credit, insurance, employment or housing.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, ZIP Code Tabulation Areas. Estimates are survey-based and have margins of error.
- U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 (establishment counts by NAICS sector; employment and payroll totals).
- Federal Housing Finance Agency, House Price Index for five-digit ZIP Codes, census tracts and counties — annual, developmental, not seasonally adjusted.
- IRS Statistics of Income, Individual Income Tax ZIP Code Data, tax year 2022.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files (ZCTA locations, used for nearby ZIP Codes).
- HUD USPS ZIP Code Crosswalk Files (ZIP-to-tract and ZIP-to-county assignment).
This product uses Census Bureau data but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. This product uses the HUD User Data API but is not endorsed or certified by HUD User. ZIP Code Tabulation Areas are Census approximations of USPS ZIP Code delivery areas and may not match them exactly. ZIP Code is a trademark of the United States Postal Service.