NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Metro Market Score 42.7 (Moderate), ranked #65 of 378 metros. 1,286 establishments, 16,714 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 42.7
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

Labor costs are a clear advantage in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton's retail trade sector. The wage competitiveness index of 19.3 puts it among the lowest-cost metros, and wage pressure at 0.0 suggests that gap is holding steady.

Industry Concentration
37.6
LQ: 1.09
Rank #142 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
19.3
$34,683 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 5.0
Employment growth index
Rank #360 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
0.0
YoY wage change index

1,286 Retail Trade Firms in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

1,286
Establishments
-2.5% YoY
16,714
Total Employment
-6.3% YoY
$34,683
Average Annual Wage
-11.9% YoY
1.09
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton vs North Carolina Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to North Carolina overall. The state ranks #25/51 for entry risk.

Measure Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton NC Statewide
Overall Score 42.7 Moderate 43.4 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #65 of 378 metros #25 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 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 38.4 Administrative and Support Services 45.1 Information 45.4

Retail Trade in Other North Carolina Metros

Durham-Chapel Hill 40.3 #51/378 Wilmington 42.4 #61/378 Raleigh-Cary 44.4 #78/378 Goldsboro 45.0 #83/378 Pinehurst-Southern Pines 47.0 #99/378 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia 50.4 #146/378 Rocky Mount 56.1 #210/378 Greensboro-High Point 56.3 #212/378 Winston-Salem 60.3 #256/378 Burlington 61.6 #274/378

+ 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 retail trade sector, the employment growth component (95.0) 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.