Uprootmap
Johnson City vs Hickory
Johnson City and Hickory
Photo: Tylerg / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Hickory are close to the US rate in this release, 6 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Johnson City to Hickory
IRS migration on this site does not list a filed flow from Johnson City to Hickory above the cutoff in 2022-2023.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $969 in Johnson City and $1,142 in Hickory. Johnson City has no state tax on wages. Hickory has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Hickory is 87% of the national level for the same work, against 83% in Johnson City.
Hickory averages 223 sunny days, with July highs around 90°F and January nights around 33°F. Johnson City is 207 sunny days, 83°F in July, 30°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Hickory and 23 in Johnson City.
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
The IRS did not publish a large enough Johnson City → Hickory pair for 2022-2023. That usually means fewer than a few dozen tax returns, not that nobody moved.
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 Johnson City and Hickory changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 70 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,600–$3,000
- Container or pod
- $1,050–$2,000
- Rent a truck
- $350–$700
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Dig into Hickory
Questions
Is Hickory cheaper than Johnson City after tax and rent?
No. Hickory leaves about $532 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $969 in Johnson City and $1,142 in Hickory.
Does Hickory have state income tax?
Hickory is in North Carolina, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Johnson City to Hickory?
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.