1st Advantage MortgageAbout 74% of Caldwell County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $56,425. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Caldwell County, NC: the basics
- How much Caldwell County households make
- The Caldwell County job picture
- What it costs to live in Caldwell County
- Caldwell County towns compared
- How Caldwell County compares with nearby counties
- What a median Caldwell County budget can carry
- Before borrowing in Caldwell County
- Caldwell County households compared
- Checklist for Caldwell County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Caldwell County, NC: the basics
Caldwell County is home to about 80,536 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 34th most populous of 100 county-level areas in North Carolina. Land area is 472 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 171 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (8 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Lenoir, with about 18,299 residents, or 23% of the county.
How much Caldwell County households make
Caldwell County households have a median income of $56,425 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 68th of 100 in North Carolina.
| Income band | Share in Caldwell County | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.4% | +6.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.4% | +4.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.8% | -3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -7.0 pts |
About 29% of households earn under $35,000, while 25% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 13.4%, the same as the state's 13.0%. A household earning below the $56,425 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Caldwell County job picture
Manufacturing employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 19%. Manufacturing stands out: 20% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.0% in Caldwell County. 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Households without a car make up 4.7% of the total (5.3% statewide).
| Sector | Caldwell County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 20.1% | +8.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.4% | -3.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.3% | -0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.9% | -4.8 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +0.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Caldwell County
A typical Caldwell County rental runs $744 a month including utilities, which is 39% below North Carolina. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 40% of renter households here. With a median value of $192,200, a typical Caldwell County house costs 3.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 74% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1980.
| Caldwell County | North Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $744/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $192,200 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.0% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 13% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Caldwell County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Caldwell County towns compared
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 52% of Caldwell County residents live in one of the 9. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $46,556 in Gamewell to $101,250 in Northlakes. No Caldwell County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 9.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenoir | city | 18,299 | $49,910 | $664 | 4 mi |
| Sawmills | town | 5,042 | $71,067 | $730 | 10 mi |
| Granite Falls | town | 4,929 | $56,917 | $905 | 13 mi |
| Hudson | town | 3,772 | $65,268 | $549 | 8 mi |
| Gamewell | town | 3,689 | $46,556 | $808 | 9 mi |
| Cajah's Mountain | town | 2,704 | $53,361 | $729 | 8 mi |
| Northlakes | CDP | 1,716 | $101,250 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Rhodhiss | town | 1,166 | $63,125 | $846 | 15 mi |
| Cedar Rock | village | 306 | $95,625 | $1,094 | 3 mi |
How Caldwell County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 19 to 27 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Catawba County leads the group on income ($67,864), Watauga County trails ($51,693), and Caldwell County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caldwell County | - | $56,425 | $744/mo | 74% |
| Burke County, NC | 19 mi | $58,592 | $884/mo | 75% |
| Alexander County, NC | 19 mi | $65,354 | $764/mo | 81% |
| Watauga County, NC | 22 mi | $51,693 | $1,127/mo | 62% |
| Avery County, NC | 24 mi | $61,428 | $773/mo | 83% |
| Wilkes County, NC | 26 mi | $51,721 | $723/mo | 74% |
| Catawba County, NC | 27 mi | $67,864 | $965/mo | 72% |
What a median Caldwell County budget can carry
Here is the Caldwell County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,702 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $744, takes 16% of that
- $949: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- $1,278: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before borrowing in Caldwell County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Caldwell County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 10% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Manufactured homes. 15% of Caldwell County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 45, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
Caldwell County households compared
19% of Caldwell County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 10.5%, against 9.9% for North Carolina.
| Measure | Caldwell County | North Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.4 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.8% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.1% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.5% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.4% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.9% |
| 60+ min | 6.0% |
Checklist for Caldwell County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Caldwell County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Caldwell County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
Consumer lenders serving Caldwell County are licensed by the state, not the county; in North Carolina that is the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The North Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the North Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Caldwell County household make?
About $56,425 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 22% below the North Carolina median.
How does Caldwell County rent compare with North Carolina?
$744 locally versus $1,228 for the state, 39% below.
Which towns does the Caldwell County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Lenoir, Sawmills, Granite Falls, Hudson, Gamewell.
Is the fit check different in Caldwell County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Caldwell County check a lender's license?
With the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.