Hickory, NC Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Hickory, NC: What You Need to Know

Hickory is the key city in North Carolina’s Hickory metropolitan area, which consists of four counties. Hickory embodies the fine craftmanship the region is well-known for.

The Local Culture

North Carolina’s reputation for craftsmanship is most apparent in Hickory, its neighbor Lenoir, and the counties of Catawba, Alexander, Burke, and Caldwell, which have been producing beautiful furniture since the early 1900s. The availability of Appalachian hardwoods is an important element of this tradition. Hickory metro touts itself as the Furniture Capital of the World and boasts of 189 furniture manufacturers that employ 14,697 people. 

Hickory’s History

The city got its name from a large hickory tree near a stagecoach junction in the area. In the 1850s, Henry Robinson built a tavern underneath the tree. It was called the Hickory Tavern. Robinson and Dolph Shuford established the town of Hickory Tavern in 1870. The arrival of the railway shortly thereafter accelerated the growth of the town whose name was changed to the City of Hickory in 1889.

The Cost of Living

Small is not only beautiful but affordable in the case of Hickory (population: 41,171). Its cost of living rate and housing costs are 1.5% and 36.5% lower than the national average respectively, although food cost is 11.1% higher than the national average. Hickory’s median gross rent is $715. North Carolina collects 5.25% in income tax. The base sales tax in the Tar Heel State is 4.75%. County sales tax ranges from 2% to 2.75%.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Downtown neighborhoods offer easy access to a biweekly farmers market and great shopping, dining, and entertainment venues, including the Hickory Community Theatre. Those who prefer the suburbs are attracted to Mountain View and Conover for their top-ranked public schools and proximity to Hickory. Their access to the interstate highway also makes travel to Asheville and Charlotte easy.

Things to Do in Hickory

Locals and tourists alike flock to Bakers Mountain Park, located on the highest elevation point in Catawba County. The park features six miles of forest trails. Motorsport fans know the city for the Hickory Motor Speedway, dubbed the World's Most Famous Short Track. The speedway is used as a venue for NASCAR's club racing division, the Whelen All-American Series. Looking for an adventure for the family? Head over to DEFY Hickory, an indoor park featuring more than 35 trampolines and launching decks spread across 40,000 square feet of space.