CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Catawba County

North Carolina · 160,610 residents · 401.374 sq mi
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The short version

Catawba County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $54,690. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $156,200.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.7
US median: 38.8
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
160,610
+13%since 2000
from 141,685 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
400 / sq mi
+13%since 2000
from 353 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
42.7
+18%since 2000
from 36.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
114K127K141K155K168K1990201020202024Catawba County
2024164K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$54,690
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,536 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,364
+44%since 2000
from $20,358 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
34.4%
+10.5 ptssince 2009
from 23.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
12.4%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade26.8%
US avg: 10%
Information11.6%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance5.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade4.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services3.9%
US avg: 6.6%
Transportation & warehousing3.3%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$156,200
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $95,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$754
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $525 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
69.2%
−3.3 ptssince 2000
from 72.5% in 2000
30.8% rent
Afford Score
2.9
+22%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Catawba County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic82.1%(116,326)
Black8.3%(11,751)
Hispanic / Latino5.6%(7,886)
Asian2.9%(4,100)
Other0%
Diversity Score37.4%(52,983)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic72.3%(116,120)
Black7.9%(12,628)
Hispanic / Latino10.8%(17,377)
Asian4.3%(6,937)
Other2.7%(4,302)
Diversity Score54.3%(87,165)
Segregation Score28.2%(45,255)
Diversity Score
54
+45%since 2000
from 37 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
28
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
23.1%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 17.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
86.4%
+11.6 ptssince 2000
from 74.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
6.9%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.7 min
+73%since 2000
from 13.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
84.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 85.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
4.8%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.0%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 9.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
62.3%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 64.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
31.2%
−28.2 ptssince 2009
from 59.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
51.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
6.6%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
11.3%
−72.8 ptssince 2013
from 84.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Catawba County

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Pop 178,607
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Pop 159,552
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Pop 169,277
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Pop 157,967
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Head to head

Compare Catawba County to nearby counties

CATAWBA COUNTY VS
Lincoln County
Income$80,016+46%
Home value$321,000+106%
Population98,654−42%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CATAWBA COUNTY VS
Alexander County
Income$65,354+19%
Home value$211,800+36%
Population36,958−78%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CATAWBA COUNTY VS
Iredell County
Income$81,419+49%
Home value$321,400+106%
Population211,798+24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CATAWBA COUNTY VS
Gaston County
Income$67,478+23%
Home value$266,000+70%
Population246,558+45%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Catawba County, North Carolina?

Catawba County, North Carolina has about 160,610 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Catawba County, North Carolina earns about $54,690 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 $156,200, and the typical rent is about $754 a month.

How educated are people in Catawba County, North Carolina?

About 23.1% 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 12.4% 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 42,198 residents, a change of about 36 percent over that period.

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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

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