Higher Education in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metro Area

The American Community Survey reported that in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metro Area, the largest educational attainment category for men is the High School Diploma category, with 32.8 percent reaching this education level. The female population in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metro area have achieved a lower level of higher education (Bachelors Degree or Higher) than the male population-- 17.6 percent (Men) versus 17.6 percent (Women). Many of the women in the area achieving a High School Diploma category, with 33.8 percent of women in the area reaching this education level.

Between 2000 and 2005, the percent of the male population that can be understood as highly educated has increased by 3.6 percent. By 2005, 17.6 percent of area's male population (+25) achieved a BA or Higher. During the same period, the percent of women (+25) that have earned a BA or higher has increased by a total of 4.4 percent. By 2005, a total of 17.6 percent of the female population having received at least a Bachelors Degree.

In the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metro Area as reported in the 2005 American Community Survey, 18.6 percent of the White Alone, 6.8 percent of Black or African American, 34.4 percent of the Asian alone and 7.8 percent of the Hispanic or Latino population, over the age 25, has achieved at least a Bachelors Degree.

Since 2000, the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metro area has increased in the total percent of the over 25 population having a Bachelors Degree or Higher. This population group has grown by 4.0 percent to a total of 17.6 percent in 2005. The American Community Survey reports that the proportion of the 2005 population that is highly educated is less than the 2005 State of North Carolina percent of 25.2 and less than the United States percent of 27.2.

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metro Area has a moderately-educated 2005 population, with 17.6 percent of the over 25 years old population having a Bachelors Degree or Higher, according to the 2005 American Community Survey. The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton MSA was reported to have a lower percent of individuals with higher educations than the State of North Carolina's proportion of 25.2 percent and a lower percent than United States proportion of 27.2 percent.

Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census. 2005 American Community Survey.

Demographic Profile for Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

By measuring total land area, the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metro area spans a total of 1638 square miles. The MSA has a medium-high average population density of 217 persons per square mile, in 2005. Similar metro areas, in terms of density, in the US include: -- more densely populated -- Weirton-Steubenville (218 per sq. mile ), Janesville (219 per sq. mile ), Colorado Springs (219 per sq. mile ), -- less densely populated -- Las Vegas-Paradise (216 per sq. mile ), Waco (216 per sq. mile ), Johnstown (215 per sq. mile ).

In 2005, the Census Bureau estimated the median age in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metro area to be 38.4 years old. The median age in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton is greater than the median age in the State of North Carolina of 36.2. Since the year 2000, the area has witnessed an increase in the median age, when it was 36.7 years old. With 30.8 percent of the 2005 population being made up of children and youth younger than 18, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton can be described as being made up of a medium-high proportion of youths. The working age population group (18-64) has a medium-high representation within the population, making up 62.6 percent of the population within the age group. People 65 and older make up 13 percent of the population in the area. When compared to other metro areas throughout the United States, this represents a medium-low proportion of the population.

The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metro area had a total estimated population of 355,654 for the year 2005. The total population has increased, since the 2000 total population of 343,048. This growth denotes an increase of 3.7 percent. Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton ranks 8 of 14 MSAs when analyzing total population change in North Carolina and the metro area ranks 153 of 361 metro areas when analyzing total MSA population change across the nation.

The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metropolitan statistical area (MSA) has a population that is made of 84.1 percent White, 6.9 percent African American, 2.3 percent Asian, and 5.7 percent Hispanic. This area can be considered to have a modest level of racial and ethnic diversity, with 14.9 percent of the population being minorities. This is less than the State of North Carolina percent of 29.6. Since 2000, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton has increased the level of diversity when 13.3 percent of the population was made up of minorities.

Since the year 2000, a high amount of people have migrated into the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metro area, with 5,325 people migrating in from another country. The international migration into Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton accounts for 3.4 percent of the total migration into the State of North Carolina. This percent of immigration can be considered high when comparing levels of immigration per population in 2005.

Datasource: Population Estimates Program, U.S. Bureau of the Census.