Home project costs in Hickory, NC
Every project we cover, priced for the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metro with local BLS wages and BEA price levels.
Hickory sits 266th of 300 metros on BEA's regional price index, at 88.5 where the US is 100. Goods, the index that drives materials, is 96.6 (106th). The metro has about 154,090 jobs in BLS's May 2025 survey.
Not every job moves the same way here: 0 of the 38 projects price above the national midpoint and 38 below. Sod installation (−5%), vinyl fence (−6%) and attic insulation (−6%) sit highest, and home addition (−14%), shower pan (−14%) and concrete driveway (−13%) sit lowest. Labor-heavy work tracks local wages; materials-heavy work tracks the goods index.
Weather: the nearest NOAA station (Hickory Faa Ap, 3 miles away) shows a January average low of 30°F, a July average high of 87°F and 47 inches of precipitation a year (1991-2020 normals). For concrete pours, the workable months are April through October; for exterior installation, every month is workable.
What local trades earn in Hickory
| Trade | Projects using it | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 25 | $17.03 | $21.42 | $24.58 | $22.66 | 0.95 |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 23 | $20.63 | $23.20 | $27.52 | $29.12 | 0.80 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10 | $19.88 | $22.76 | $27.84 | $28.78 | 0.79 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 7 | $21.99 | $24.68 | $29.44 | $30.67 | 0.80 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 6 | $17.02 | $21.43 | $23.18 | $27.41 | 0.78 |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 6 | $22.42 | $25.83 | $31.22 | $30.38 | 0.85 |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $26.77 | n/a |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 5 | $18.30 | $22.51 | $26.51 | $26.65 | 0.84 |
Concrete & paving in Hickory
Across these 7 projects, Hickory averages −10% against national midpoints. Paver patio is highest at −8% and concrete driveway lowest at −13%.
| Project | Size | Hickory range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab cost in Hickory | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,750 | −9% |
| Concrete driveway cost in Hickory | 600 sq ft | $3,250 – $8,000 | −13% |
| Asphalt driveway cost in Hickory | 600 sq ft | $2,850 – $6,800 | −8% |
| Gravel driveway cost in Hickory | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,350 | −8% |
| Paver patio cost in Hickory | 300 sq ft | $2,800 – $5,000 | −8% |
| Concrete patio cost in Hickory | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,550 | −11% |
| Stamped concrete cost in Hickory | 400 sq ft | $2,950 – $7,100 | −10% |
Decks & outdoor in Hickory
Across these 2 projects, Hickory averages −11% against national midpoints. Wood deck is highest at −10% and composite deck lowest at −12%.
| Project | Size | Hickory range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck cost in Hickory | 300 sq ft | $6,850 – $13,700 | −10% |
| Composite deck cost in Hickory | 300 sq ft | $10,600 – $21,300 | −12% |
Building & additions in Hickory
The 2 jobs here average −12% versus the US in Hickory, from −14% (home addition) to −10% (detached garage).
| Project | Size | Hickory range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached garage cost in Hickory | 576 sq ft | $26,100 – $52,300 | −10% |
| Home addition cost in Hickory | 300 sq ft | $32,500 – $65,900 | −14% |
Doors & windows in Hickory
Across these 5 projects, Hickory averages −8% against national midpoints. Front door is highest at −7% and patio door lowest at −11%.
| Project | Size | Hickory range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage door cost in Hickory | 1 door | $640 – $3,450 | −7% |
| Storm door cost in Hickory | 1 door | $310 – $870 | −9% |
| Front door cost in Hickory | 1 door | $440 – $2,350 | −7% |
| Window replacement cost in Hickory | 10 windows | $4,100 – $13,900 | −7% |
| Patio door cost in Hickory | 1 door | $550 – $5,350 | −11% |
Fencing in Hickory
Across these 4 projects, Hickory averages −7% against national midpoints. Vinyl fence is highest at −6% and chain-link fence lowest at −8%.
| Project | Size | Hickory range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence cost in Hickory | 150 linear ft | $2,750 – $7,050 | −8% |
| Vinyl fence cost in Hickory | 150 linear ft | $4,300 – $8,600 | −6% |
| Chain-link fence cost in Hickory | 150 linear ft | $1,450 – $5,600 | −8% |
| Aluminum fence cost in Hickory | 150 linear ft | $3,500 – $10,600 | −8% |
Roofing & exterior in Hickory
Across these 5 projects, Hickory averages −9% against national midpoints. Attic insulation is highest at −6% and metal roof lowest at −11%.
| Project | Size | Hickory range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement cost in Hickory | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,400 – $11,300 | −10% |
| Metal roof cost in Hickory | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $8,750 – $29,300 | −11% |
| Gutters cost in Hickory | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,850 | −8% |
| Vinyl siding cost in Hickory | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,550 – $22,700 | −10% |
| Attic insulation cost in Hickory | 1,000 sq ft | $930 – $3,750 | −6% |
Kitchen & bath in Hickory
The 5 jobs here average −11% versus the US in Hickory, from −14% (shower pan) to −7% (kitchen remodel).
| Project | Size | Hickory range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets cost in Hickory | 25 linear ft | $3,850 – $12,200 | −12% |
| Shower pan cost in Hickory | 1 pan | $770 – $2,450 | −14% |
| Kitchen remodel cost in Hickory | 120 sq ft | $17,200 – $29,300 | −7% |
| Bathroom remodel cost in Hickory | 45 sq ft | $4,100 – $20,400 | −12% |
| Kitchen backsplash cost in Hickory | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −10% |
Landscaping & drainage in Hickory
The 5 jobs here average −8% versus the US in Hickory, from −9% (retaining wall) to −5% (sod installation).
| Project | Size | Hickory range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain cost in Hickory | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,950 | −8% |
| Retaining wall cost in Hickory | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,300 – $12,300 | −9% |
| Sod installation cost in Hickory | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,100 | −5% |
| Sprinkler system cost in Hickory | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,650 – $9,100 | −9% |
| Inground pool cost in Hickory | 450 sq ft | $32,800 – $102,500 | −9% |
Flooring & interior in Hickory
Across these 3 projects, Hickory averages −9% against national midpoints. Hardwood flooring is highest at −9% and laminate flooring lowest at −9%.
| Project | Size | Hickory range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring cost in Hickory | 500 sq ft | $5,000 – $11,400 | −9% |
| Laminate flooring cost in Hickory | 500 sq ft | $1,800 – $6,350 | −9% |
| Tile flooring cost in Hickory | 200 sq ft | $2,050 – $9,250 | −9% |
Hickory against its nearest metros
Taking every project together, Hickory comes out −9% versus the national midpoint. Of the 6 closest metros, 4 price higher and 1 lower. Johnson City is the lowest at −10% (60 miles) and Asheville the highest at −7% (65 miles). These are unweighted averages of the midpoints, a rough guide to overall price level rather than a number for any one job.
| Metro | Distance | Price index | Goods index | All projects vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NCthis page | 88.5 | 96.6 | −9% | |
| Johnson City, TN | 60 miles | 87.9 | 96.2 | −10% |
| Charlotte, NC | 60 miles | 97.3 | 96.6 | −7% |
| Asheville, NC | 65 miles | 96.5 | 96.6 | −7% |
| Winston, NC | 65 miles | 92.0 | 96.6 | −9% |
| Spartanburg, SC | 70 miles | 91.1 | 96.3 | −9% |
| Kingsport, TN | 75 miles | 86.4 | 96.2 | −9% |