Cleveland County is a county of 100,991 people in North Carolina. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 22% of adults. The foreign-born share is 3%. The typical home is worth $200,000, having more than doubled since 2000. Median rent is $914 a month. That trails the North Carolina median by roughly 19%.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $58,534, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 41%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Cleveland County
What changed most since 1990
White share78.1% → 70.6%(−7.4 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Poverty rate11.0% → 16.6%(+5.6 pts)US over the same years: −0.8 pts
Hispanic share0.3% → 4.7%(+4.4 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)20%(1,145)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)24%(1,371)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era34.5%(1,971)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.6%(265)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.4%(25)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 5,720 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Cleveland County, decade by decade
Cleveland County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
84,714
$63,544
$126,964
11.1%
43.4
2000
96,287
$64,273
$141,360
13.3%
47.0
2010
98,078
$54,965
$148,604
15.7%
50.7
2020
99,519
$52,738
$157,565
19.5%
57.5
2024
100,991
$58,534
$200,000
22.0%
58.0
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
How many people live in Cleveland County, North Carolina?
Cleveland County, North Carolina has about 100,991 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Cleveland County, North Carolina?
The typical household in Cleveland County, North Carolina earns about $58,534 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Cleveland County, North Carolina expensive?
In Cleveland County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $200,000, and the typical rent is about $914 a month.
How educated are people in Cleveland County, North Carolina?
About 22.0% of adults age 25 and over in Cleveland County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Cleveland County, North Carolina?
About 16.6% of people in Cleveland County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Cleveland County, North Carolina grown since 1990?
Yes, Cleveland County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 16,277 residents, a change of about 19 percent over that period.
