1st Advantage MortgageCatawba County households have a median income of $67,864 and median rent of $965 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in North Carolina before sharing details.
On this page
- A quick profile of Catawba County
- Work, industries and travel time in Catawba County
- Household income in Catawba County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Catawba County
- Counties near Catawba County
- The communities that make up Catawba County
- Catawba County households compared
- Reading the Catawba County data as a borrower
- Room for a loan payment in Catawba County
- Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
- Four steps for Catawba County borrowers
- More guides for Catawba County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Catawba County
With an estimated 163,573 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Catawba County ranks 18th of 100 in North Carolina for population. Land area is 401 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 408 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Hickory is the biggest of its 11 Census places, at roughly 44,258 people (27% of the county total).
Work, industries and travel time in Catawba County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Catawba County residents work in manufacturing and 19% in education and health care. Compared with North Carolina, the county leans toward manufacturing (26% against 12%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 5.2% of the total (5.3% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Catawba County workers | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 26.3% | +14.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.1% | -3.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | +0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | -0.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.3% | -5.4 pts |
| Other services | 5.8% | +1.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Household income in Catawba County
Catawba County households have a median income of $67,864 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 28th of 100 in North Carolina.
| Band | Catawba County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.7% | +0.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.0% | +3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.0% | -1.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.3% | -3.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Catawba County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. Census counts 12.7% of Catawba County residents in poverty, against 13.0% across North Carolina. A household earning below the $67,864 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Catawba County
A typical Catawba County rental runs $965 a month including utilities, which is 21% below North Carolina. 41% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 17% spend half or more. With a median value of $241,600, a typical Catawba County house costs 3.6 times what the median household earns in a year. 72% of Catawba County households own their home and 28% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1985.
| Catawba County | North Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $965/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $241,600 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.6% | 11.0% | n/a |
Because most Catawba County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Counties near Catawba County
Lincoln County is closest, 12 miles from center to center; the sixth, Burke County, is 28 miles off. Income ranges from $56,425 in Caldwell County to $81,419 in Iredell County; 2 of these neighbors top Catawba County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catawba County | - | $67,864 | $965/mo | 72% |
| Lincoln County, NC | 12 mi | $80,016 | $1,015/mo | 79% |
| Alexander County, NC | 18 mi | $65,354 | $764/mo | 81% |
| Iredell County, NC | 22 mi | $81,419 | $1,252/mo | 72% |
| Gaston County, NC | 26 mi | $67,478 | $1,153/mo | 67% |
| Caldwell County, NC | 27 mi | $56,425 | $744/mo | 74% |
| Burke County, NC | 28 mi | $58,592 | $884/mo | 75% |
The communities that make up Catawba County
The table lists the 11 largest of 11 Census places in Catawba County, by population. Together all 11 hold about 101,255 people, so roughly 38% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $112,656 at the median in Lake Norman of Catawba, $46,739 in Long View. Rent is cheapest in Maiden ($776) and steepest in Lake Norman of Catawba ($1,319). None of the 11 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | city | 44,258 | $64,576 | $1,063 | 8 mi |
| Newton | city | 13,333 | $62,015 | $1,091 | 1 mi |
| Lake Norman of Catawba | CDP | 9,906 | $112,656 | $1,319 | 14 mi |
| St. Stephens | CDP | 9,457 | $60,394 | $958 | 8 mi |
| Conover | city | 8,580 | $65,972 | $898 | 4 mi |
| Long View | town | 5,011 | $46,739 | $794 | 10 mi |
| Mountain View | CDP | 3,982 | $71,792 | $956 | 9 mi |
| Maiden | town | 3,788 | $75,511 | $776 | 5 mi |
| Claremont | city | 1,922 | $66,667 | $938 | 5 mi |
| Catawba | town | 628 | $47,250 | $1,118 | 9 mi |
| Brookford | town | 390 | n/a | $909 | 8 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Catawba County households compared
26% of Catawba County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 10.6%, against 9.9% for North Carolina.
| People and households | Catawba County | North Carolina | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.1% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.8% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.6% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 44.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.8% |
| 60+ min | 6.2% |
Reading the Catawba County data as a borrower
Based on the Catawba County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 11% of Catawba County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Room for a loan payment in Catawba County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Catawba County's medians:
- $67,864 a year is $5,655 of gross monthly income
- 17% goes to median rent ($965)
- Under a 36% cap, $2,036 total minus rent leaves $1,071
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,467 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Catawba County, check the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The North Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Catawba County borrowers
Steps that save money for Catawba County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Catawba County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in North Carolina.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Catawba County
For statewide rules and data, see the North Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Catawba County a high-income county?
Its $67,864 median ranks 28th of 100 North Carolina counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Catawba County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $965 a month; 41% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Hickory?
Yes, along with the other 10 Census places in Catawba County, such as Newton, Lake Norman of Catawba, St. Stephens.
Does living in Catawba County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Catawba County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Catawba County residents?
The North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks licenses consumer lenders in North Carolina; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.