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COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Caldwell County

North Carolina · 77,415 residents · 471.888 sq mi
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The short version

Caldwell County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $35,739. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 24%. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $79,800.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 37.5
US median: 35.2
Less educated
10% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
77,415
+9%since 1990
from 70,709 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
164 / sq mi
+9%since 1990
from 150 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
37.5
+8%since 1990
from 34.7 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
69K73K77K81K84K1990201020202024Caldwell County
202481K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$35,739
+6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $25,691 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$17,353
+51%since 1990
from $11,522 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
10.7%
−0.1 ptssince 1990
from 10.8% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$79,800
+19%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $51,000 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$446
+6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $320 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
74.9%
+0.2 ptssince 1990
from 74.8% in 1990
25.1% rent
Afford Score
2.2
+12%since 1990
from 2.0 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Caldwell County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic94%(66,485)
Black5.5%(3,918)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(306)
Asian0.1%(58)
Diversity Score15.1%(10,645)
2000
White, non-Hispanic90.8%(70,307)
Black5.4%(4,201)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(1,927)
Asian0.4%(301)
Diversity Score19.6%(15,183)
Diversity Score
20
+30%since 1990
from 15 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
10.4%
+1.5 ptssince 1990
from 8.9% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
66.2%
+9.4 ptssince 1990
from 56.8% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
3.2%
+0.4 ptssince 1990
from 2.8% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.4 min
−22%since 1990
from 17.1 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Caldwell County

Talladega County
Pop 81,603
White County
Pop 80,085
Troup County
Pop 72,844
Vermilion County
Pop 71,259
Places similar to Caldwell County
Head to head

Compare Caldwell County to nearby counties

CALDWELL COUNTY VS
Burke County
Income$58,592+64%
Home value$185,400+132%
Population88,655+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CALDWELL COUNTY VS
Alexander County
Income$65,354+83%
Home value$211,800+165%
Population36,958−54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CALDWELL COUNTY VS
Watauga County
Income$51,693+45%
Home value$358,900+350%
Population54,786−32%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CALDWELL COUNTY VS
Avery County
Income$61,428+72%
Home value$265,800+233%
Population18,110−78%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Caldwell County, North Carolina?

Caldwell County, North Carolina has about 77,415 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Caldwell County, North Carolina?

The typical household in Caldwell County, North Carolina earns about $35,739 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Caldwell County, North Carolina expensive?

In Caldwell County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $79,800, and the typical rent is about $446 a month.

How educated are people in Caldwell County, North Carolina?

About 10.4% of adults age 25 and over in Caldwell County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Caldwell County, North Carolina?

About 10.7% of people in Caldwell County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Caldwell County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Caldwell County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,706 residents, a change of about 9 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

19 census tracts
Census Tract 307Census Tract 301Census Tract 309Census Tract 302Census Tract 305Census Tract 306Census Tract 312.02Census Tract 311Census Tract 313.01Census Tract 313.02Census Tract 304Census Tract 303Census Tract 308.02Census Tract 312.01Census Tract 308.01Census Tract 314.02Census Tract 314.01Census Tract 310Census Tract 314.03
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 28645ZIP 28630ZIP 28638ZIP 28611ZIP 28667
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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