1st Advantage MortgageLincoln County households have a median income of $80,016 and median rent of $1,015 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Who lives in Lincoln County
- Paychecks and income spread in Lincoln County
- The Lincoln County job picture
- Housing costs in Lincoln County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Lincoln County
- Lincoln County and the counties next door
- A Lincoln County household budget, worked through
- More Lincoln County figures
- What the numbers mean for Lincoln County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Lincoln County
- Four steps for Lincoln County borrowers
- More guides for Lincoln County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Lincoln County
Roughly 92,716 residents live in Lincoln County, North Carolina, 31st by population among the state's 100 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 296 square miles, that is close to 313 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 6 Census places inside Lincoln County, Lincolnton leads by population with about 11,783; 1 of the 6 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Lincoln County
The median household income in Lincoln County is $80,016; statewide it is $72,388, so Lincoln County runs 11% above North Carolina as a whole. In the state ranking that is 15th of 100.
| Households earning | Lincoln County | +/- vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.2% | -2.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.5% | -1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.6% | -0.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 13.7% | +3.4 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 38% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 11.2% of Lincoln County residents in poverty, against 13.0% across North Carolina. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.473 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $80,016 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Lincoln County job picture
By the Census industry count, 20% of employed Lincoln County residents work in education and health care and 16% in manufacturing. Compared with North Carolina, the county leans toward manufacturing (16% against 12%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.3% in Lincoln County. Long commutes are common here: 23% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 3.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Lincoln County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.7% | -2.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.1% | +4.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | -0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.0% | -1.7 pts |
| Construction | 10.0% | +2.6 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.7% | -0.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Housing costs in Lincoln County
Renters in Lincoln County pay a median of $1,015 a month, 17% below the North Carolina figure of $1,228. 42% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $321,000, about 4.0 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 79%. The median year built is 1994.
| Housing | Lincoln County | North Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,015/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $321,000 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.9% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 13% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Cities, towns and CDPs in Lincoln County
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 27% of Lincoln County residents live in one of the 6. Incomes vary by place: $131,908 at the median in Westport, $46,320 in Lincolnton. Rent is cheapest in Denver ($869) and steepest in Westport ($1,556). None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincolnton | city | 11,783 | $46,320 | $965 | 1 mi |
| Westport | CDP | 5,915 | $131,908 | $1,556 | 14 mi |
| Lowesville | CDP | 3,874 | $113,510 | $1,490 | 13 mi |
| Denver | CDP | 2,497 | $65,721 | $869 | 11 mi |
| Iron Station | CDP | 934 | $77,083 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Crouse | CDP | 408 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Lincoln County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 12 to 30 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Mecklenburg County leads the group on income ($87,005), Cleveland County trails ($58,534), and Lincoln County out-earns 4 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | - | $80,016 | $1,015/mo | 79% |
| Catawba County, NC | 12 mi | $67,864 | $965/mo | 72% |
| Gaston County, NC | 14 mi | $67,478 | $1,153/mo | 67% |
| Cleveland County, NC | 21 mi | $58,534 | $914/mo | 71% |
| Mecklenburg County, NC | 28 mi | $87,005 | $1,627/mo | 55% |
| Iredell County, NC | 30 mi | $81,419 | $1,252/mo | 72% |
| Alexander County, NC | 30 mi | $65,354 | $764/mo | 81% |
A Lincoln County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Lincoln County's medians:
- $80,016 a year is $6,668 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $1,015, takes 15% of that
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,652 a month
If your rent is above $1,015, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
More Lincoln County figures
28% of Lincoln County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 8.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Lincoln County | North Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.4 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.3% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.4% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.7% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.3% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.3% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.3% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Lincoln County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.0% |
| 60+ min | 10.4% |
What the numbers mean for Lincoln County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Lincoln County borrowers.
- Vehicle repairs. 23% of Lincoln County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 15% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Licensing and complaints for Lincoln County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Lincoln County resident can confirm its license with 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 Lincoln County borrowers
A short checklist for Lincoln County borrowers:
- Price the Lincoln County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Lincoln County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Lincoln County
For statewide rules and data, see the North Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Lincoln County?
$80,016 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,388 for North Carolina. It ranks 15th of 100 in the state.
What do renters pay in Lincoln County?
$1,015 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
I live in a small Lincoln County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Lincolnton, Westport, Lowesville, Denver, Iron Station and 1 more.
Can Lincoln 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 do I complain to about a lender in Lincoln County?
Start with the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.