Cleveland County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Cleveland County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 100,170. It is the 29th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cleveland County is 41.2 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cleveland County is $55,769. This is 20% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 29% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.2%. This is 31% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.7%. This is 18% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $180,200. Housing costs are 31% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 70.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cleveland County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 18.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.4%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

21.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 39% 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%.