Hickory NC

[Buckethead]

Looking at transferring to Hickory with my Job. I wanted to see if anyone from that area, or close could chime in on the area.
How are the schools?
Cost of living?
Recreation?


Thanks

Jared

 

[1974FJ]

I dont live far from Hickory. I think Hickory is a nice place. less than an hour from Boone and the high country area which i think is very nice. Recreation would be your ski slopes, there are a couple big lakes around too if your into that. Not a very large place, home of 40,000 or so. and about an hour from charlotte.
helpful site maybe: City of Hickory, North Carolina

 

[pawwright]

ok - still lurking on this board but I'll chime in what I know - take this from someone who is also coming from the POV of not growing up here -- Hickory pretty much has anything you are looking for shopping wise, and like 1974fj said -- less than an hour to Charlotte, about an hour to Boone. Schools as for children? I really don't know as I don't have kids -- there are both public and private schools though, and my extended family has their kids in private school presently. Cost of living compared to what -- compared to the Northeast it is cheaper, but mostly in real estate, taxes, and insurance. Food, clothing seems to be the same. Recreation there is lake hickory, and lake norman. I think it depends on what part of Hickory you are looking to live in -- from what I've seen, and I could be wrong, there are some sketchy areas (not Philly sketchy, but sketchy nonetheless). But Conover is a nice place to live which is right next to it. Any specific questions areas I can try and help you with -- my family lives here (and have lived here their whole life) and could probably fill in any holes.... hth.

 

[Buckethead]

ok - still lurking on this board but I'll chime in what I know - take this from someone who is also coming from the POV of not growing up here -- Hickory pretty much has anything you are looking for shopping wise, and like 1974fj said -- less than an hour to Charlotte, about an hour to Boone. Schools as for children? I really don't know as I don't have kids -- there are both public and private schools though, and my extended family has their kids in private school presently. Cost of living compared to what -- compared to the Northeast it is cheaper, but mostly in real estate, taxes, and insurance. Food, clothing seems to be the same. Recreation there is lake hickory, and lake norman. I think it depends on what part of Hickory you are looking to live in -- from what I've seen, and I could be wrong, there are some sketchy areas (not Philly sketchy, but sketchy nonetheless). But Conover is a nice place to live which is right next to it. Any specific questions areas I can try and help you with -- my family lives here (and have lived here their whole life) and could probably fill in any holes.... hth.

Thanks
I was asking about public schools as I have a 3 year old and another on the way. Where we live now, private school is the only option and it gets REALLY expensive. I was hoping that the public schools there would very good.
Property will most likely be more expensive than Alabama, but I am expecting that.
I will be in the Asheville Area in a couple of weeks and plan on riding over ad having a look around.

Thank you again.

 

[pawwright]

np - I'll check with the fam to see what they say about public schools in Hickory and see if they have an opinion......

 

[DirtNOOB]

Here's a link for you below....

I live in Lewisville, NC just outside of Winston Salem and the public school here is UNBELIEVABLE. Watch out for some of the new "magnet" schools in bad neighborhoods that are looking at pulling up their test scores by offering a cool thing or two to AG students... (Academically Gifted) some are really worth it, some will give your child a good 'ol american inner city experience! (We have some magnet schools here that go under lock down all the time due to neighborhood violence, robberies, etc)

Here's a link to the Hickory School System. Looks pretty solid if you ask me....

Hickory Public Schools - Home

 

[swampthing]

Wow - someone else from Alabama named Jared?? I moved up here 1 yr ago from Bham

Can't tell you much about Hickory - except that I stayed at the Hampton Inn there last night...had a customer visit over in Valdese this morning.

Seemed decent, but then again didn't go far...my neighbors are from Hickory - they're nice.

DN - out of curiosity is Unbelievable good or bad?

I'm a fan of public schools...though I might be partial since my wife teaches in the public schools (food for thought - you don't even have to be a licensed teacher to teach at a Private school!)

 

[pawwright]

update: here's what the family says, tried to take it directly from what they said, again, they don't have any kids in Hickory school system, hth:

"Specific elementary schools in Hickory for ex. Jenkins is a good school. Southwest is okay and Viewmont Elem. Is okay but if I had to choose I would choose Jenkins b/c of the things that I’ve heard. I’ve never witnessed good or bad so it is just hearsay."