NAICS 72

Accommodation and Food Services in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Metro Market Score 30.8 (Favorable), ranked #16 of 298 metros. 734 establishments, 13,250 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 30.8
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Favorable

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national accommodation and food services average.

📈Rapid Growth

Employment in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton's accommodation and food services sector grew faster than most metros last year, pushing its growth trend index to 81.9. Combined with a 30.8 market score, this metro sits in the top 10% for overall conditions.

Industry Concentration
33.6
LQ: 0.95
Rank #100 of 298 metros
Wage Competitiveness
11.7
$20,609 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 81.9
Employment growth index
Rank #55 of 298 metros
Wage Pressure
70.0
YoY wage change index

734 Accommodation and Food Services Firms in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

734
Establishments
+1.4% YoY
13,250
Total Employment
+2.5% YoY
$20,609
Average Annual Wage
+3.1% YoY
0.95
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton vs North Carolina Statewide

How this metro's accommodation and food services market compares to North Carolina overall. The state ranks #2/51 for entry risk.

Measure Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton NC Statewide
Overall Score 30.8 Favorable 23.4 Low
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #16 of 298 metros #2 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

Construction 19.7 Finance and Insurance 33.1 Other Services 33.5 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 38.4 Retail Trade 42.7 Administrative and Support Services 45.1 Information 45.4

Accommodation and Food Services in Other North Carolina Metros

Durham-Chapel Hill 40.0 #49/298 Raleigh-Cary 42.8 #64/298 Burlington 45.6 #92/298 Greensboro-High Point 49.3 #111/298 Wilmington 50.4 #117/298 Rocky Mount 52.0 #131/298 Winston-Salem 53.4 #142/298 Greenville 54.0 #149/298 Jacksonville 59.4 #179/298 Fayetteville 60.0 #184/298

+ 3 more metros. View all in North Carolina →

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton's accommodation and food services sector, the wage pressure component (70.0) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.