1st Advantage MortgageIn Cleveland County, North Carolina, the typical household earns $58,534 a year and the typical rent is $914. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's North Carolina license first.
On this page
- Cleveland County by the numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Cleveland County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Cleveland County
- How Cleveland County residents earn a living
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- The communities that make up Cleveland County
- What a median Cleveland County budget can carry
- Cleveland County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Cleveland County
- Who licenses lenders for Cleveland County residents
- Before you sign
- More guides for Cleveland County
- Frequently asked questions
Cleveland County by the numbers
Roughly 100,991 residents live in Cleveland County, North Carolina, 29th by population among the state's 100 counties and county equivalents. It covers 464 square miles of land, or about 218 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Cleveland County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Shelby is the biggest of its 15 Census places, at roughly 22,100 people (22% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Cleveland County
Half of Cleveland County households take in less than $58,534 a year and half take in more, 19% below the North Carolina median of $72,388. Only 57 North Carolina counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Cleveland County | Gap to North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.7% | +6.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.1% | +1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.7% | -2.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -5.9 pts |
About 30% of households earn under $35,000, while 27% clear $100,000. Census counts 16.6% of Cleveland County residents in poverty, against 13.0% across North Carolina. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.443 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Cleveland 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.
Rent, home values and ownership in Cleveland County
Renters in Cleveland County pay a median of $914 a month, 26% below the North Carolina figure of $1,228. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 50% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $200,000, about 3.4 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 71%. Median construction year: 1979.
| Cost | Cleveland County | North Carolina figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $914/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $200,000 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 13% | n/a |
How Cleveland County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Cleveland County residents work in education and health care and 18% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 18% locally and 12% for North Carolina. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.2% in Cleveland County. 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Only 5.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Cleveland County | Gap to North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.4% | -0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.4% | +6.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.9% | +3.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -4.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.2% | -1.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.7% | +1.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Cleveland County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 20 to 30 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $50,288 in Cherokee County to $80,016 in Lincoln County; 4 of these neighbors top Cleveland County's median. The list crosses into South Carolina, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland County | - | $58,534 | $914/mo | 71% |
| Cherokee County, SC | 20 mi | $50,288 | $869/mo | 74% |
| Rutherford County, NC | 21 mi | $51,410 | $783/mo | 74% |
| Lincoln County, NC | 21 mi | $80,016 | $1,015/mo | 79% |
| Gaston County, NC | 22 mi | $67,478 | $1,153/mo | 67% |
| Burke County, NC | 30 mi | $58,592 | $884/mo | 75% |
| Catawba County, NC | 30 mi | $67,864 | $965/mo | 72% |
The communities that make up Cleveland County
The table lists the 14 largest of 15 Census places in Cleveland County, by population. Together all 15 hold about 33,334 people, so roughly 67% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $36,736 in Grover to $89,875 in Boiling Springs. Rent is cheapest in Fallston ($715) and steepest in Boiling Springs ($1,192). Live in one of these Cleveland County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby | city | 22,100 | $48,376 | $945 | 3 mi |
| Boiling Springs | town | 4,757 | $89,875 | $1,192 | 8 mi |
| Belwood | town | 893 | $51,299 | $860 | 10 mi |
| Patterson Springs | town | 845 | $58,250 | $1,000 | 7 mi |
| Lawndale | town | 739 | $39,250 | $880 | 6 mi |
| Grover | town | 621 | $36,736 | $1,000 | 13 mi |
| Fallston | town | 616 | $56,250 | $715 | 7 mi |
| Polkville | city | 536 | $74,688 | $820 | 7 mi |
| Lattimore | town | 526 | $81,250 | $850 | 6 mi |
| Kingstown | town | 381 | $30,750 | $848 | 4 mi |
| Casar | town | 373 | $60,875 | $633 | 13 mi |
| Earl | town | 309 | $44,033 | $944 | 10 mi |
| Light Oak | CDP | 277 | $63,333 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Mooresboro | town | 190 | $49,464 | $800 | 8 mi |
What a median Cleveland County budget can carry
How much room does a median Cleveland County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $58,534 a year is $4,878 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $914, which is 19% of it
- $1,037: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Cleveland County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Cleveland County households compared
22% of Cleveland County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Cleveland County | North Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.0% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.6% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.3% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.0% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.6% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.6% |
| 60+ min | 8.3% |
Local borrowing considerations for Cleveland County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Cleveland County borrowers.
- 18% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Tight rental budgets. With 50% of Cleveland County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Who licenses lenders for Cleveland County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Cleveland County borrowers answers to the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The North Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Cleveland County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Cleveland County
For statewide rules and data, see the North Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cleveland County a high-income county?
Its $58,534 median ranks 58th of 100 North Carolina counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Cleveland County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $914 a month; 50% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Cleveland County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 15 Census places: Shelby, Boiling Springs, Belwood, Patterson Springs, Lawndale.
Can Cleveland County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every North Carolina county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Cleveland 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.