Bowie, MD vs Hickory, NC

Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.

Score Snapshot

No universal winner

Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.

Bowie

69.4

#1212 nationally

vs

Hickory

70.8

#1056 nationally

Bowie leads in median household income ($138,797 vs $58,251). Bowie leads in crime level (5.3 vs 11.2). Hickory leads in average commute (19.6 min vs 36.1 min).

Metric-by-Metric Breakdown

Metric Bowie, MD Hickory, NC
WhereAtHome Score 69.4 (#1212) 70.8 (#1056)
Population 57,254 44,415
Typical Home Value (ZHVI) $526,880 $298,293
Median Household Income $138,797 $58,251
Average Commute 36.1 min 19.6 min
Walk Score 25 28
Crime Level 5.3 11.2
School Rating N/A N/A
Cost of Living Index 134 98
Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored D+75.2 R+38.0