Uprootmap
Hickory vs Durham
Hickory and Durham
Photo: unknown / Wikimedia, Public domain
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Durham are above the US rate in this release, 8.7 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Hickory to Durham
In 2022-2023, 28 households filed a move from Hickory to Durham (about 34 people, average adjusted gross income $63,536). Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,142 in Hickory and $1,274 in Durham. Hickory has a state tax on wages. Durham has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Durham is 98% of the national level for the same work, against 87% in Hickory.
Durham averages 222 sunny days, with July highs around 89°F and January nights around 37°F. Hickory is 223 sunny days, 90°F in July, 33°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Durham and 24 in Hickory.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 28 households moved Hickory → Durham (about 34 people, average AGI $63,536). The reverse flow is too small for the IRS to publish.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Hickory and Durham changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 159 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,700–$3,200
- Container or pod
- $1,150–$2,150
- Rent a truck
- $450–$800
Explore more
Dig into Durham
Questions
Is Durham cheaper than Hickory after tax and rent?
Yes. Durham leaves about $33 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,142 in Hickory and $1,274 in Durham.
Does Durham have state income tax?
Durham is in North Carolina, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Hickory to Durham?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.