Uprootmap
Winston-Salem vs Hickory
Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem to Hickory
In 2022-2023, 70 households filed a move from Winston-Salem to Hickory (about 112 people, average adjusted gross income $66,857). 61 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,047 in Winston-Salem and $1,142 in Hickory. Winston-Salem has a 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 89% in Winston-Salem.
Hickory averages 223 sunny days, with July highs around 90°F and January nights around 33°F. Winston-Salem is 221 sunny days, 90°F in July, 35°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Hickory and 24 in Winston-Salem.
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, 70 households moved Winston-Salem → Hickory (about 112 people, average AGI $66,857). 61 households went the other way.
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 Winston-Salem and Hickory changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 78 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,600–$3,000
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,000
- Rent a truck
- $400–$700
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Dig into Hickory
Questions
Is Hickory cheaper than Winston-Salem after tax and rent?
No. Hickory leaves about $133 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,047 in Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem 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.