CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Catawba County

North Carolina · 141,685 residents · 401.374 sq mi
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The short version

Catawba County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $40,536. Population has grown 20% since 1990. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $95,100.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 36.1
US median: 35.2
Less educated
17% 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
141,685
+20%since 1990
from 118,412 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
353 / sq mi
+20%since 1990
from 295 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
36.1
+5%since 1990
from 34.3 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
114K127K141K155K168K1990201020202024Catawba County
2024164K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,536
+5%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $29,228 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$20,358
+48%since 1990
from $13,764 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
9.1%
+2.0 ptssince 1990
from 7.1% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$95,100
+16%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $62,300 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$525
+7%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $371 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
72.5%
−0.3 ptssince 1990
from 72.8% in 1990
27.5% rent
Afford Score
2.3
+10%since 1990
from 2.1 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Catawba County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic89.8%(106,382)
Black9%(10,673)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(687)
Asian0.7%(854)
Diversity Score24.3%(28,718)
2000
White, non-Hispanic82.1%(116,326)
Black8.3%(11,751)
Hispanic / Latino5.6%(7,886)
Asian2.9%(4,100)
Diversity Score37.4%(52,983)
Diversity Score
37
+54%since 1990
from 24 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.0%
+2.8 ptssince 1990
from 14.2% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
74.8%
+8.1 ptssince 1990
from 66.7% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
4.7%
+1.4 ptssince 1990
from 3.3% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.1 min
−17%since 1990
from 15.7 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 Catawba County

Shawnee County
Pop 178,607
Jackson County
Pop 159,552
Pueblo County
Pop 169,277
Penobscot County
Pop 157,967
Places similar to Catawba County
Head to head

Compare Catawba County to nearby counties

CATAWBA COUNTY VS
Lincoln County
Income$80,016+97%
Home value$321,000+238%
Population98,654−42%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CATAWBA COUNTY VS
Alexander County
Income$65,354+61%
Home value$211,800+123%
Population36,958−78%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CATAWBA COUNTY VS
Iredell County
Income$81,419+101%
Home value$321,400+238%
Population211,798+24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CATAWBA COUNTY VS
Gaston County
Income$67,478+66%
Home value$266,000+180%
Population246,558+45%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Catawba County, North Carolina?

Catawba County, North Carolina has about 141,685 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Catawba County, North Carolina earns about $40,536 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Catawba County, North Carolina expensive?

In Catawba County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $95,100, and the typical rent is about $525 a month.

How educated are people in Catawba County, North Carolina?

About 17.0% of adults age 25 and over in Catawba County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 9.1% of people in Catawba County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Catawba County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Catawba County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 23,273 residents, a change of about 20 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

34 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 111.02Census Tract 113Census Tract 117.02Census Tract 106Census Tract 118.01Census Tract 101.01Census Tract 103.02Census Tract 118.02Census Tract 115.01Census Tract 104.03Census Tract 112Census Tract 102.04Census Tract 116.02Census Tract 103.01Census Tract 116.01Census Tract 117.01Census Tract 104.02Census Tract 103.03Census Tract 102.01Census Tract 103.04
9 ZIP codes
ZIP 28601ZIP 28602ZIP 28658ZIP 28613ZIP 28650ZIP 28610ZIP 28673ZIP 28609ZIP 28682
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →