Catawba County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Catawba County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 162,051. It is the 18th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Catawba County is 41.8 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Catawba County is $64,544. This is 8% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 18% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.8%. This is 3% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 13% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $218,100. Housing costs are 16% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 72.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Catawba County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 72.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.1%. The Black or African American population (7.9%) is well below the state average of 20.3%.

Education

24.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 28% lower than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.5%.