Population

Hickory

43,747

Willmar

21,136

Median Income

Hickory

$63,361

Willmar

$63,368

Home Value

Hickory

$248,300

Willmar

$186,000

Rent

Hickory

$975

Willmar

$830

Crime Rate

Hickory

4.10

Willmar

4.38

Cost of Living

Hickory

101.8

Willmar

91.9

Avg Temp

Hickory

N/A

Willmar

N/A

Unemployment

Hickory

4.8%

Willmar

4.7%

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How Similar Are Hickory & Willmar?

Willmar is Hickory's #18 most similar city

6/10

6 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Hickory

43,747

vs

Willmar

21,136

Different · 52% difference

Hickory (43,747) is about 2.1x larger than Willmar (21,136).

Violent Crime

Hickory

4.10

vs

Willmar

4.38

Match · 7% difference
🚨

Both cities have similar violent crime — just a 7% difference.

Property Crime

🔒

Hickory

28.24

vs

Willmar

12.92

Different · 54% difference

Hickory's property crime is significantly higher than Willmar's — 54% difference.

Political Leaning

Hickory

70.3%

vs

Willmar

64.7%

Match · 8% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Republican with similar vote shares — 8% difference.

Unemployment

💼

Hickory

4.8%

vs

Willmar

4.7%

Match · 1% difference

Both cities have similar unemployment — just a 1% difference.

Median Income

Hickory

$63,361

vs

Willmar

$63,368

Match · 0% difference
💰

Both cities have similar median income — just a 0% difference.

Home Values

🏠

Hickory

$248,300

vs

Willmar

$186,000

Different · 25% difference

Hickory has a 25% higher home values than Willmar.

Education

Hickory

23.6%

vs

Willmar

16.0%

Different · 32% difference
🎓

Hickory has a 32% higher education than Willmar.

Demographics

🌍

Hickory

68.3%

vs

Willmar

68.3%

Match · 0% difference

Both cities have similar demographics — just a 0% difference.

Cost of Living

Hickory

101.8

vs

Willmar

91.9

Match · 10% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 10% difference.

6 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Hickory and Willmar share several key characteristics.

At a Glance

0

Hickory

vsof 8

0

Willmar

Willmar leads in 4 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — Willmar leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Willmar scores 71.2 on the transportation index (100 = national avg) vs 87.1 in Hickory. Willmar scores 92.4 on the housing index (100 = national avg) vs 112.5 in Hickory. Willmar has a fair market rent (1br) of $787 vs $908 in Hickory (15% lower).

Overall Cost Index

Hickory101.8
Willmar91.9

Housing Index

Hickory112.5
Willmar92.4

Food Index

Hickory98.4
Willmar98.4

Transportation Index

Hickory87.1
Willmar71.2

Healthcare Index

Hickory98.7
Willmar98.7

Utilities Index

Hickory101.6
Willmar97.5

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Hickory$44,778
Willmar$40,450

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Hickory$105,840
Willmar$95,609

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Hickory$908
Willmar$787

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Hickory$1,095
Willmar$973

Housing Market — Willmar leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Willmar has a vacancy rate of 6.9% compared to 10.4% in Hickory. Hickory has a median home value of $248,300 vs $186,000 in Willmar (33% higher). Willmar has a median rent of $830 vs $975 in Hickory (17% lower).

Median Home Value

Hickory$248,300
Willmar$186,000

Median Rent

Hickory$975
Willmar$830

Median Property Tax

Hickory$1,904
Willmar$1,767

Owner-Occupied

Hickory55.9%
Willmar57.5%

Vacancy Rate

Hickory10.4%
Willmar6.9%

Single-Family Homes

Hickory59.0%
Willmar63.9%

Jobs & Economy — Hickory leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Hickory: 21,334 vs Willmar: 10,932 for labor force. Hickory has a work from home of 11.0% compared to 7.2% in Willmar. Willmar: 12 min vs Hickory: 18 min for mean commute.

Median Household Income

Hickory$63,361
Willmar$63,368

Per Capita Income

Hickory$36,266
Willmar$31,501

Poverty Rate

Hickory16.9%
Willmar15.2%

Unemployment Rate

Hickory4.8%
Willmar4.7%

Labor Force

Hickory21,334
Willmar10,932

Mean Commute

Hickory18 min
Willmar12 min

Work from Home

Hickory11.0%
Willmar7.2%

Private Sector

Hickory96.1%
Willmar90.1%

Government Sector

Hickory46.0%
Willmar45.0%

Crime & Safety — Willmar leads

Source: FBI UCR

Willmar has a robbery rate (per 1k) of 0.05 compared to 0.56 in Hickory. Willmar has a burglary rate (per 1k) of 1.12 compared to 4.10 in Hickory. Willmar has a property crime rate (per 1k) of 12.92 compared to 28.24 in Hickory.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Hickory4.10
Willmar4.38

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Hickory28.24
Willmar12.92

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Hickory0.02
Willmar0.00

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Hickory0.56
Willmar0.05

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Hickory3.25
Willmar3.03

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Hickory4.10
Willmar1.12

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Hickory21.51
Willmar11.01

Violent Crime Clearance

Hickory43.2%
Willmar61.7%

Property Crime Clearance

Hickory15.2%
Willmar33.6%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

HickoryN/A
WillmarN/A

Avg Annual High

HickoryN/A
WillmarN/A

Avg Annual Low

HickoryN/A
WillmarN/A

Sunny Days per Year

HickoryN/A
WillmarN/A

Annual Rainfall

HickoryN/A
WillmarN/A

Annual Snowfall

HickoryN/A
WillmarN/A

Avg Humidity

HickoryN/A
WillmarN/A

Schools & Education — Hickory leads

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Hickory has a bachelor's degree or higher of 23.6% compared to 16.0% in Willmar. Hickory has a high school diploma or higher of 39.0% compared to 35.0% in Willmar.

Public Schools

Hickory0
Willmar0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

HickoryN/A
WillmarN/A

Colleges & Universities

Hickory0
Willmar0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Hickory23.6%
Willmar16.0%

High School Diploma or Higher

Hickory39.0%
Willmar35.0%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Hickory has a population of 43,747, about 2.1x the size of Willmar (21,136). Willmar skews younger with a median age of 35.6 vs 37.7.

Population

Hickory43,747
Willmar21,136

Median Age

Hickory38
Willmar36

Avg Household Size

Hickory2.4
Willmar2.4

Married Population

Hickory38.0%
Willmar36.2%

Foreign Born

Hickory8.9%
Willmar16.9%

White

Hickory68.3%
Willmar68.3%

Black

Hickory13.5%
Willmar10.5%

Hispanic

Hickory13.9%
Willmar24.9%

Asian

Hickory4.2%
Willmar2.4%

Hickory

Willmar

Healthcare — Hickory leads

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Hickory: 2.6 vs Willmar: 2.0 for avg cms rating (out of 5). Hickory: 5 vs Willmar: 4 for with emergency services.

Nearby Hospitals

Hickory5
Willmar5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Hickory2.6
Willmar2.0

With Emergency Services

Hickory5
Willmar4

Transportation & Commute — Willmar leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Willmar has a public transit of 1.9% compared to 0.1% in Hickory. Willmar has a bicycle of 0.9% compared to 0.1% in Hickory. Hickory has a work from home of 11.0% compared to 7.2% in Willmar.

Mean Commute Time

Hickory18 min
Willmar12 min

Drive Alone

Hickory73.3%
Willmar75.3%

Public Transit

Hickory0.1%
Willmar1.9%

Bicycle

Hickory0.1%
Willmar0.9%

Work from Home

Hickory11.0%
Willmar7.2%

Airports

Hickory0
Willmar0

Cities Similar to Hickory, NC

Compare Hickory against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

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