Caldwell County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
Caldwell County, North Carolina has a population of 80,536, the 34th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $56,425 and the median home value is $192,200. The poverty rate is 13.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Caldwell County Quick Facts
How Caldwell County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 80,618 | 80,536 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | $55,401 | $56,425 | +1.8% |
| Median home value | $174,000 | $192,200 | +10.5% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Caldwell County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenoir | 18,299 | $49,910 | 14.6% | $179,400 |
| Sawmills | 5,042 | $71,067 | 9.9% | $219,600 |
| Granite Falls | 4,929 | $56,917 | 17.2% | $202,400 |
| Hudson | 3,772 | $65,268 | 13.7% | $223,000 |
| Gamewell | 3,689 | $46,556 | 21.5% | $170,100 |
| Cajah's Mountain | 2,704 | $53,361 | 13.9% | $201,800 |
| Northlakes | 1,716 | $101,250 | 2.0% | $366,500 |
| Blowing Rock | 992 | $120,938 | 2.4% | $705,000 |
| Cedar Rock | 306 | $95,625 | 2.0% | $424,500 |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Caldwell County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 80,536. It is the 34th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Caldwell County is 45.4 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Caldwell County is $56,425. This is 22% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 30% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.4%. This is 3% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 7% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $192,200. Housing costs are 33% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 73.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Caldwell County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.7%. The Black or African American population (4.0%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.
Education
18.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 84.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Caldwell County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against North Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Caldwell County, North Carolina?
Caldwell County has a population of 80,536, making it the 34th most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in Caldwell County?
The median household income in Caldwell County is $56,425 with a poverty rate of 13.4%.
How many cities are in Caldwell County, North Carolina?
Caldwell County contains 9 Census-designated places.