Population 163,573 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Catawba County
Household size in Catawba County
| Period | Catawba County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.56 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.61 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.50 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.48 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.08 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Catawba County run small, averaging 2.48 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has edged down from 2.56 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the east.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Catawba County
| Period | Catawba County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.3 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.5 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.1 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.6 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.4 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Catawba County is 41.6 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 39.3 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Catawba County
| Period | Catawba County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.3% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.8% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Catawba County (12.8%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 1.3 points, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Catawba County
Renters in Catawba County
| Period | Catawba County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.2% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.7% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.6% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.8% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Catawba County own their homes; 27.8% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 40.7% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the south.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Catawba County
| Period | Catawba County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.7% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.8% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.9% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Catawba County as nationally: 9.8%, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in North Carolina overall (11.4%). Vacancy is down 2.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Catawba County
| Period | Catawba County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Catawba County are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1984, versus 1980 across the U.S. Even so, homes here are older than in North Carolina overall, where the median home dates to 1990. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the northwest has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Catawba County
| Period | Catawba County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $686 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $722 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $757 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,007 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$321 | +$528 | +$606 |
The median renter in Catawba County pays $1,007 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $321 a month since 2006–10, up 47%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.6% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the east and lowest in the west.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Catawba County
Bachelor's degrees in Catawba County
| Period | Catawba County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.6% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.6% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.5% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.9% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Catawba County than nationally: 25.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the east.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Catawba County
| Period | Catawba County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.3% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.5% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.8% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.0% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Catawba County is close to the national rate: 88.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in North Carolina as a whole (90.2%). The share with a diploma has risen 6.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Catawba County
| Period | Catawba County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.9 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Catawba County runs below the national rate: 3.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 4.9 points, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Catawba County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catawba County | 2.48 | 41.6 | 12.8% | 27.8% | 9.8% | 1984 | $1,007 | 25.9% | 88.0% | 3.7% |
| Iredell County | 2.62 | 40.9 | 10.5% | 28.1% | 9.3% | 1994 | $1,373 | 35.2% | 91.8% | 4.2% |
| Burke County | 2.38 | 44.4 | 10.1% | 25.5% | 9.9% | 1980 | $912 | 21.7% | 85.7% | 4.4% |
| Rowan County | 2.52 | 41.4 | 12.7% | 27.7% | 9.9% | 1981 | $1,054 | 23.0% | 89.0% | 5.2% |
| McDowell County | 2.38 | 44.8 | 10.8% | 24.4% | 14.5% | 1983 | $823 | 17.4% | 85.4% | 3.9% |
| Buncombe County | 2.70 | 43.5 | 9.2% | 33.8% | 23.3% | 1988 | $1,316 | 45.2% | 92.6% | 4.1% |
| Randolph County | 2.58 | 41.3 | 11.2% | 27.5% | 9.4% | 1985 | $915 | 17.9% | 84.3% | 3.4% |
| Haywood County | 2.33 | 47.7 | 9.5% | 25.1% | 21.9% | 1980 | $1,069 | 29.6% | 91.3% | 3.3% |
| Chatham County | 2.48 | 47.2 | 7.5% | 19.4% | 8.3% | 1997 | $1,436 | 49.9% | 91.0% | 3.1% |
| Wake County | 2.62 | 38.3 | 9.1% | 35.9% | 7.7% | 1999 | $1,758 | 57.6% | 94.0% | 4.1% |
| Blount County | 2.51 | 44.1 | 8.4% | 23.0% | 10.2% | 1987 | $1,111 | 28.9% | 91.3% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Kings County, CA · Midland County, TX · Beaver County, PA · Pitt County, NC · Madera County, CA · Chittenden County, VT · Merrimack County, NH · Mesa County, CO · Monroe County, MI · St. Clair County, MI
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Catawba County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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