NAICS 53

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Metro Market Score 38.4 (Moderate), ranked #120 of 330 metros. 378 establishments, 902 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 38.4
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national real estate and rental and leasing average.

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton's real estate and rental and leasing sector saw employment decline over the past year (growth trend: 15.8). That contraction, combined with a 38.4 market score, puts this metro in the upper half for market conditions. Understand why the local market is shrinking before committing.

Industry Concentration
3.6
LQ: 0.38
Rank #12 of 330 metros
Wage Competitiveness
38.2
$52,338 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 15.8
Employment growth index
Rank #279 of 330 metros
Wage Pressure
13.5
YoY wage change index

378 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing Firms in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

378
Establishments
-1.6% YoY
902
Total Employment
-4.4% YoY
$52,338
Average Annual Wage
+0.9% YoY
0.38
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton vs North Carolina Statewide

How this metro's real estate and rental and leasing market compares to North Carolina overall. The state ranks #23/51 for entry risk.

Measure Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton NC Statewide
Overall Score 38.4 Moderate 38.1 Moderate
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #120 of 330 metros #23 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 Accommodation and Food Services 30.8 Finance and Insurance 33.1 Other Services 33.5 Retail Trade 42.7 Administrative and Support Services 45.1 Information 45.4

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing in Other North Carolina Metros

Goldsboro 29.8 #66/330 Burlington 31.2 #76/330 Rocky Mount 33.1 #86/330 Winston-Salem 39.9 #135/330 Pinehurst-Southern Pines 40.1 #137/330 Durham-Chapel Hill 40.8 #149/330 Wilmington 41.9 #161/330 Greenville 47.9 #201/330 Fayetteville 52.5 #235/330 Jacksonville 53.0 #239/330

+ 4 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 real estate and rental and leasing sector, the employment growth component (84.2) 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.