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COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Cleveland County

North Carolina · 98,078 residents · 464.249 sq mi
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The short version

Cleveland County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $38,208. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $103,300.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 40.3
US median: 37.2
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
98,078
+2%since 2000
from 96,287 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
211 / sq mi
+2%since 2000
from 207 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
40.3
+10%since 2000
from 36.5 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
83K88K93K98K103K1990201020202024Cleveland County
2024101K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$38,208
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,283 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$19,284
+11%since 2000
from $17,395 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
19.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 18.6% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
19.4%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.439
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade20.8%
US avg: 10.9%
Information12.4%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade6.6%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance5.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical4.6%
US avg: 4.2%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 7%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 3.1%
Public administration2.2%
US avg: 4.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 2.4%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$103,300
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $77,600 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$603
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $447 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
43.0%
−29.9 ptssince 2000
from 72.8% in 2000
31.3% rent
Vacancy rate
12.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
25.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 26.1% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 42.5% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.7
+23%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cleveland County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic76.2%(73,357)
Black20.8%(20,010)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(1,433)
Asian0.7%(647)
Other0%
Diversity Score45.6%(43,942)
2010
White, non-Hispanic74.2%(72,793)
Black20.6%(20,237)
Hispanic / Latino2.8%(2,756)
Asian0.7%(735)
Other1.1%(1,104)
Diversity Score50%(49,048)
Diversity Score
50
+10%since 2000
from 46 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.7%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
79.5%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 72.2% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
5.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.6 min
+42%since 2000
from 15.9 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
86.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 85.8% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
8.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
2.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
7.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
14.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
28.2%
−31.5 ptssince 2009
from 59.7% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
Female
52.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 52.2% in 2009
Foreign born
2.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
10.3%
−36.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.8% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Cleveland County

Houston County
Pop 110,318
Garland County
Pop 99,695
Delaware County
Pop 113,106
Marshall County
Pop 103,537
Places similar to Cleveland County
Head to head

Compare Cleveland County to nearby counties

CLEVELAND COUNTY VS
Cherokee County
Income$50,288+32%
Home value$142,000+37%
Population58,275−44%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLEVELAND COUNTY VS
Rutherford County
Income$51,410+35%
Home value$201,800+95%
Population65,745−36%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLEVELAND COUNTY VS
Lincoln County
Income$80,016+109%
Home value$321,000+211%
Population98,654−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLEVELAND COUNTY VS
Gaston County
Income$67,478+77%
Home value$266,000+158%
Population246,558+139%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Cleveland County, North Carolina?

Cleveland County, North Carolina has about 98,078 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Cleveland County, North Carolina earns about $38,208 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 $103,300, and the typical rent is about $603 a month.

How educated are people in Cleveland County, North Carolina?

About 15.7% 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 19.4% 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 13,364 residents, a change of about 16 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

24 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 9504Census Tract 9503.02Census Tract 9514Census Tract 9512Census Tract 9515.01Census Tract 9501.01Census Tract 9508Census Tract 9502Census Tract 9503.01Census Tract 9516.01Census Tract 9506.01Census Tract 9516.02Census Tract 9507.02Census Tract 9507.01Census Tract 9511Census Tract 9506.04Census Tract 9510Census Tract 9513Census Tract 9505Census Tract 9509
12 ZIP codes
ZIP 28086ZIP 28150ZIP 28152ZIP 28090ZIP 28114ZIP 28073ZIP 28020ZIP 28017ZIP 28042ZIP 28089ZIP 28169ZIP 28136
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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