1st Advantage MortgageAbout 81% of Alexander County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $65,354. Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Alexander County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Alexander County
- The Alexander County job picture
- Alexander County housing compared with North Carolina
- How much Alexander County households make
- Alexander County against other North Carolina counties
- Alexander County communities by population
- Alexander County and the counties next door
- Age, degrees and coverage in Alexander County
- What a median Alexander County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Alexander County
- Who licenses lenders for Alexander County residents
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Alexander County
Alexander County is home to about 36,412 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 67th most populous of 100 county-level areas in North Carolina. Density: about 140.1 residents per square mile across 260 square miles of land. Metro area: Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (OMB, 2023). Bethlehem (4,101 people) heads the county's list of 4 Census places, 1 incorporated and 3 census-designated.
The Alexander County job picture
Manufacturing employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 20%. Compared with North Carolina, the county leans toward manufacturing (24% against 12%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 14% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. 3.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Alexander County | Gap to North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 23.6% | +11.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.7% | -2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.3% | -4.4 pts |
| Other services | 7.7% | +2.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.8% | +1.4 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Alexander County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Alexander County housing compared with North Carolina
Half of Alexander County renters pay more than $764 a month and half pay less; the North Carolina midpoint is $1,228. 39% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $211,800, about 3.2 times the median household income. In Alexander County, 81% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Median construction year: 1985.
| Alexander County | North Carolina | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $764/mo | $1,228/mo | 38% lower |
| Median home value | $211,800 | $288,900 | 27% lower |
| Owners | 81% | 67% | +14.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 49% | -9.4 pts |
| Burdened owners | 16% | 25% | -8.4 pts |
| Mobile homes | 23.5% | 11.0% | +12.5 pts |
| Vacant units | 13% | 13% | +0.4 pts |
Alexander County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side).
How much Alexander County households make
Median household income in Alexander County: $65,354 (10% below North Carolina, $72,388). That places it 39th among North Carolina's 100 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Alexander County | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.6% | +3.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.2% | +6.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.1% | -3.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -6.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of Alexander County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. Alexander County counts about 4,578 residents below the poverty line, 12.6% of the population. Gini index for Alexander County: 0.442. For a borrower in Alexander County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Alexander County against other North Carolina counties
Ranked against the other 99 county-level areas in North Carolina, these are the Alexander County figures furthest from the middle.
- On households without a vehicle, Alexander County sits near the bottom of North Carolina at 3.1%, 8th lowest of 100. Nearly every household has a vehicle, so repair costs are a common reason to borrow.
- Few North Carolina counties match Alexander County on the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 39% here, 49% for the state, ranking 7th lowest of 100. Rents are manageable for most, which can leave space for savings.
- On the uninsured rate, Alexander County sits near the bottom of North Carolina at 8.1%, 13th lowest of 100. Even insured households face deductibles; ask the provider about a payment plan.
- Alexander County ranks 13th highest of 100 North Carolina counties for homeownership: 81%, against 67% statewide. An owner-heavy county means repairs are a common reason to borrow.
Alexander County communities by population
Places, by size: the top 4 of 4. Roughly 78% of Alexander County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Incomes vary by place: $87,795 at the median in Bethlehem, $39,423 in Taylorsville. Live in one of these Alexander County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethlehem | CDP | 4,101 | $87,795 | $795 | 10 mi |
| Taylorsville | town | 2,201 | $39,423 | $496 | 0 mi |
| Stony Point | CDP | 1,372 | $73,209 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Hiddenite | CDP | 290 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Alexander County and the counties next door
Catawba County is closest, 18 miles from center to center; the sixth, Burke County, is 32 miles off. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Alexander County; Iredell County is highest at $81,419 and Wilkes County lowest at $51,721.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander County | - | $65,354 | $764/mo | 81% |
| Catawba County, NC | 18 mi | $67,864 | $965/mo | 72% |
| Iredell County, NC | 19 mi | $81,419 | $1,252/mo | 72% |
| Caldwell County, NC | 19 mi | $56,425 | $744/mo | 74% |
| Wilkes County, NC | 20 mi | $51,721 | $723/mo | 74% |
| Lincoln County, NC | 30 mi | $80,016 | $1,015/mo | 79% |
| Burke County, NC | 32 mi | $58,592 | $884/mo | 75% |
Age, degrees and coverage in Alexander County
College graduates make up 17% of the adult population. Uninsured, Alexander County: 8.1%; North Carolina: 9.9%.
| Measure | Alexander County | Gap to North Carolina | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.7% | -19.0 pts | -5.5 pts |
| Work from home | 6.1% | -10.2 pts | -2.5 pts |
| Median age | 43.8 | +4.7 yrs | +2.3 yrs |
| No high school diploma | 14.2% | +4.4 pts | n/a |
| No vehicle | 3.1% | -2.3 pts | -2.4 pts |
| No health insurance | 8.1% | -1.8 pts | +0.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | -0.5 pts | -0.6 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | +0.3 pts | +0.6 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Alexander County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.9% |
| 60+ min | 6.8% |
What a median Alexander County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Alexander County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,446 before taxes
- Median rent: $764, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,197 a month
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,578 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Borrowing situations common in Alexander County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Alexander County borrowers.
- Mobile homes in Alexander County. At 24% of units, they are a big part of local housing; check whether yours is titled as real or personal property.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Who licenses lenders for Alexander County residents
Alexander County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. If a Alexander County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. Statewide data and rules: North Carolina guide.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Alexander County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Alexander County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the North Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Alexander County?
$65,354 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,388 for North Carolina. It ranks 39th of 100 in the state.
Can a Alexander County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $764 median rent and $5,446 median monthly income, rent alone uses 14%; add other debts before a new payment.
Which towns does the Alexander County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Bethlehem, Taylorsville, Stony Point, Hiddenite.
Is the fit check different in Alexander County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
How do I know a lender is legitimate in Alexander County?
Look it up with the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks, read the written offer, and refuse any fee before funding.