Metro area index
Home appreciation in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area
FHFA HPI® data shows the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area's all-transactions index changed +2.8% over the year to Q2 2026, versus +2.4% for North Carolina and +3.0% for the U.S. That ranks 237th of 410 metro areas and divisions FHFA tracks.
- 1-year change
- +2.8%
- 5-year change
- +54.2%
- Since Q1 1995
- +252%
- Metro rank (1 year)
- 237th
U.S. +3.0%
U.S. +41.3%
U.S. +292%
of 410
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC vs North Carolina and the U.S.
FHFA HPI® all-transactions index, rebased so Q1 1995 = 100, through Q2 2026
- Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC: 352.4
- North Carolina: 376.3
- United States: 391.6
Appreciation by time window
| Window | Metro | NC | U.S. | Gap vs NC | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +2.8% | +2.4% | +3.0% | +0.4 pts | −0.3 pts |
| 3 years | +15.4% | +12.3% | +12.9% | +3.0 pts | +2.5 pts |
| 5 years | +54.2% | +51.4% | +41.3% | +2.8 pts | +12.9 pts |
| 10 years | +117% | +113% | +93.3% | +3.8 pts | +23.8 pts |
| Since Q1 1995 | +252% | +276% | +292% | −23.9 pts | −39.2 pts |
3-digit ZIP regions in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC area
Regions with at least 10% of their 2010 population inside the metro, largest overlap first. A 3-digit ZIP region can extend beyond the metro boundary.
| 3-digit ZIP region | State | 1 year | 5 years | Since Q1 1995 | Population in metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 286 · Hickory, NC area | NC | +2.5% | +55.7% | +263% | 57% |
Boom, bust, and recovery in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC area
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC area's index peaked in Q1 2009, fell 11.3% to its low in Q3 2013, and regained its peak in Q3 2017, about 8.5 years after the top. Today it sits +106% versus that 2000s peak. How every state and ZIP region fared
| Area | 2000s peak | Low point | Peak to low | Back to peak | Today vs peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | Q1 2009 | Q3 2013 | -11.3% | Q3 2017 (8.5 yrs) | +106% |
| NC | Q1 2008 | Q2 2012 | -13.1% | Q4 2016 (8.8 yrs) | +109% |
| U.S. | Q1 2007 | Q2 2012 | -19.0% | Q4 2016 (9.8 yrs) | +89.3% |
Appreciation after inflation
Adjusting for consumer price inflation, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC area's index has changed +59.1% in real terms since Q1 1995. Home prices vs inflation
| Window | Inflation (CPI-U) | Metro after inflation | NC after inflation | U.S. after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +3.9% | -1.1% | -1.4% | -0.8% |
| 3 years | +9.8% | +5.1% | +2.3% | +2.8% |
| 5 years | +24.0% | +24.4% | +22.1% | +13.9% |
| 10 years | +39.1% | +56.1% | +53.4% | +39.0% |
| Since Q1 1995 | +121% | +59.1% | +70.0% | +76.8% |
If you bought in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC area in…
An example $300,000 purchase grown at the metro index rate to Q2 2026.
| Bought in | Index change | $300,000 then, at the metro rate |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 1995 | +244% | $1,033,011 |
| Q2 2000 | +172% | $816,656 |
| Q2 2005 | +134% | $701,307 |
| Q2 2010 | +119% | $658,453 |
| Q2 2015 | +127% | $679,532 |
| Q2 2020 | +73.5% | $520,498 |
| Q2 2021 | +54.2% | $462,698 |
| Q2 2023 | +15.4% | $346,107 |
| Q2 2025 | +2.8% | $308,294 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much have home prices risen in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC area?
- FHFA HPI® data for the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area shows changes of +2.8% over one year, +54.2% over five years, and +117% over ten years to Q2 2026, and +252% since Q1 1995.
- Is the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC area beating the national average?
- Over the past year the metro's index moved −0.3 pts versus the U.S.; over five years the gap is +12.9 pts.
- What area does this metro index cover?
- FHFA computes metro indexes using the counties in each OMB-defined metropolitan statistical area. The index covers the whole area, so individual neighborhoods and homes can differ from it.