Catawba County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Name: Catawba County, North Carolina Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Catawba County, North Carolina has a population of 163,573, the 18th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $67,864 and the median home value is $241,600. The poverty rate is 12.7%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Catawba County Quick Facts

Population 163,573

Median Household Income $67,864

Median Home Value $241,600

Poverty Rate 12.7%

Unemployment Rate 3.7%

Median Age 42.1 years

Homeownership Rate 72.2%

Affordability Ratio 3.6x

Bachelor's Degree+ 26.1%

High School Graduation 88.2%

Cities/Places 11

Population 163,573 18th of 100

Median Income $67,864 6% lower than state

Poverty Rate 12.7%

Unemployment 3.7%

How Catawba 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	162,051	163,573	+0.9%
Median household income	$64,544	$67,864	+5.1%
Median home value	$218,100	$241,600	+10.8%

Median Household Income

Catawba

$67,864

$72,388

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Catawba

$241,600

$288,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 16.5%

$25K-$50K 20.9%

$50K-$100K 31.3%

$100K+ 31.3%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.9%

$10K-$15K

3.6%

$15K-$20K

3.8%

$20K-$25K

4.2%

$25K-$30K

3.6%

$30K-$35K

3.7%

$35K-$40K

4.8%

$40K-$45K

3.4%

$45K-$50K

5.5%

$50K-$60K

7.1%

$60K-$75K

10.3%

$75K-$100K

13.8%

$100K-$125K

10.2%

$125K-$150K

6.9%

$150K-$200K

6.9%

$200K+

7.3%

Employment

3.7% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

60.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 72.2%

Renter 27.8%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.6x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $965/mo 17.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.6%

18-34

20.6%

35-54

24.9%

55-74

25.1%

75+

7.7%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 58 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Catawba County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Hickory	44,258	$64,576	17.1%	$278,400
Newton	13,333	$62,015	12.0%	$186,300
Lake Norman of Catawba	9,906	$112,656	4.2%	$492,600
St. Stephens	9,457	$60,394	16.3%	$213,300
Conover	8,580	$65,972	15.7%	$271,300
Long View	5,011	$46,739	11.3%	$157,300
Mountain View	3,982	$71,792	20.4%	$222,500
Maiden	3,788	$75,511	19.7%	$233,800
Claremont	1,922	$66,667	7.0%	$255,300
Catawba	628	$47,250	21.4%	$163,000
Brookford	390	N/A	19.0%	$131,300

Explore North Carolina Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Catawba County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 163,573. It is the 18th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Catawba County is 42.1 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Catawba County is $67,864. This is 6% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 16% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.7%. This is 2% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.7%. This is 22% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $241,600. Housing costs are 16% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 72.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Catawba County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.5%. The Black or African American population (7.6%) is well below the state average of 20.0%.

Education

26.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 27% 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 88.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Catawba 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 Catawba County, North Carolina?

Catawba County has a population of 163,573, making it the 18th most populous county in North Carolina.

What is the median income in Catawba County?

The median household income in Catawba County is $67,864 with a poverty rate of 12.7%.

How many cities are in Catawba County, North Carolina?

Catawba County contains 11 Census-designated places.