Catawba County, NC

County

Add Comparison

2023 Population

162,051

0.646% 1-year growth

US Senator

Thom Tillis

Republican Party

US Senator

Ted Budd

Republican Party

2023 Median Age

41.8

0.723% 1-year increase

2023 Poverty Rate

12.8%

1.71% 1-year decrease

2023 Median Household Income

$64,544

3.99% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$218,100

12.4% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

76,978

1.43% 1-year growth

About

In 2023, Catawba County, NC had a population of 162k people with a median age of 41.8 and a median household income of $64,544. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Catawba County, NC grew from 161,011 to 162,051, a 0.646% increase and its median household income grew from $62,070 to $64,544, a 3.99% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Catawba County, NC are White (Non-Hispanic) (72.6%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (7.93%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (4.12%), Other (Hispanic) (3.97%), and Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.95%).

None of the households in Catawba County, NC reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

96.2% of the residents in Catawba County, NC are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Catawba County, NC are Catawba Valley Community College (1,765 degrees awarded in 2022) and Lenoir-Rhyne University (607 degrees).

In 2023, the median property value in Catawba County, NC was $218,100, and the homeownership rate was 72.7%.

Most people in Catawba County, NC drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 22.7 minutes. The average car ownership in Catawba County, NC was 2 cars per household.

Catawba County, NC borders Alexander County, NC, Burke County, NC, Caldwell County, NC, Iredell County, NC, and Lincoln County, NC.

United States North Carolina Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Population & Diversity

Catawba County, NC is home to a population of 162k people, from which 96.2% are citizens. As of 2023, 6.74% of Catawba County, NC residents were born outside of the country (10.9k people).

In 2023, there were 9.15 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (118k people) in Catawba County, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 12.9k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 6.68k Asian (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

96.2%

2023 Citizenship

96%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 96.2% of Catawba County, NC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Catawba County, NC was 96%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Catawba County, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Catawba County, NC

White (Non-Hispanic)
118k ± 493
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
12.9k ± 595
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
6.68k ± 525

11.1%

Hispanic Population

18k people

11.1% of the people in Catawba County, NC are hispanic (18k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Catawba County, NC as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for North Carolina.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
214,508 ± 11,254 people
India
79,868 ± 6,912 people
Honduras
39,759 ± 4,886 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of North Carolina was Mexico, the natal country of 214,508 North Carolina residents, followed by India with 79,868 and Honduras with 39,759.

Foreign-Born Population

6.74%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

10.9k people

6.87%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

11.1k people

As of 2023, 6.74% of Catawba County, NC residents (10.9k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Catawba County, NC was 6.87%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Catawba County, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
3,009 ± 371
Gulf War (2001-)
1,817 ± 392
Gulf War (1990s)
1,350 ± 297

Catawba County, NC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.66 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Catawba County, NC employs 77k people. The largest industries in Catawba County, NC are Manufacturing (20,426 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (9,219 people), and Retail Trade (8,754 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($85,862), Finance & Insurance ($73,603), and Management of Companies & Enterprises ($70,461).

Males in North Carolina have an average income that is 1.31 times higher than the average income of females, which is $57,464. The income inequality in North Carolina (measured using the Gini index) is 0.47, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

77k

2023 Value

± 2,323

1.43%

1 Year growth

± 4.23%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Catawba County, NC grew at a rate of 1.43%, from 75.9k employees to 77k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Catawba County, NC, are Production Occupations (12,049 people), Management Occupations (9,063 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (7,502 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Catawba County, NC.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in North Carolina (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

View Full Dashboard

Industries

Employment by Industries

77k

2023 Value

± 2,323

1.43%

1 Year growth

± 4.23%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Catawba County, NC grew at a rate of 1.43%, from 75.9k employees to 77k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Catawba County, NC, are Manufacturing (20,426 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (9,219 people), and Retail Trade (8,754 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Catawba County, NC, though some of these residents may live in Catawba County, NC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$47,153

Median earning men ± $1,187

$36,413

Median earning women ± $1,382

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Information ($67,344), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($65,089), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($58,964).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($62,113), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($60,568), and Public Administration ($59,330).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Y-Axis

3.04%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 4.86M people employed in North Carolina. This represents a 3.04% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.9%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in North Carolina.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

293
Other Services (except Public Administration)
267
Retail Trade
250
Construction

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Depending on the option selected, the visualization shows the number of employees or number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$1.27M
Manufacturing
$659k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$356k
Wholesale Trade

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Education

In 2022, universities in Catawba County, NC awarded 2,372 degrees. The student population of Catawba County, NC in 2022 is skewed towards women, with 2,691 male students and 3,835 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Catawba County, NC are White (1,643 and 70.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (260 and 11.2%), Asian (165 and 7.1%), and Black or African American (142 and 6.11%).

The largest universities in Catawba County, NC by number of degrees awarded are Catawba Valley Community College (1,765 and 74.4%) and Lenoir-Rhyne University (607 and 25.6%).

The most popular majors in Catawba County, NC are Liberal Arts & Sciences (597 and 25.2%), General Business Administration & Management (262 and 11%), and Registered Nursing (135 and 5.69%).

The median tuition cost in Catawba County, NC for private four year colleges is $43,000.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2022 in Catawba County, NC, the percentage of applicants admitted was 82.9%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 8.74%. The number of students enrolled in 2022 was 6,526 (41.2% men and 58.8% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2022 there were 6,526 students enrolled in Catawba County, NC, 41.2% men and 58.8% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 4,247 records, of which 59.4% were women and 40.6% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Registered Nursing
79 degrees awarded
General Business Administration & Management
33 degrees awarded
Liberal Arts & Sciences
597 degrees awarded

In 2022, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Catawba County, NC was Registered Nursing with 79 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Catawba County, NC according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Catawba Valley Community College
1,765 degrees awarded
Lenoir-Rhyne University
607 degrees awarded

In 2022, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Catawba Valley Community College with 1,765 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2022, 1,031 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Catawba County, NC, which is 0.769 times less than the 1,341 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2022 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 1,643 degrees mean that there were 6.32 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 260 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($43,000) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2022.

Public, 2-year ($239) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2022.

Public, 2-year ($1,900) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Measure

In 2022, 0.944% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.805% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (2.16M), Some college (1.84M), and Bachelors Degree (1.63M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Catawba County, NC was $218,100 in 2023, which is 0.719 times smaller than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $194,000 to $218,100, a 12.4% increase. The homeownership rate in Catawba County, NC is 72.7%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in Catawba County, NC have an average commute time of 22.7 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Catawba County, NC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Catawba County, NC is $64,544. In 2023, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Catawba County, NC was Census Tract 105.02 with a value of $114,500, followed by Census Tract 115.03 and Census Tract 105.01, with respective values of $103,204 and $98,825.

In 2023, 12.4% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Catawba County, NC. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator declined 0.156%.

Housing

Property

$218,100

Median Property Value 2023

±$5,700

$47,414

Median Property Taxes

±$1,799

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Catawba County, NC the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Catawba County, NC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

72.7%

Homeownership

2023

66.9%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 72.7% of the housing units in Catawba County, NC were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 71%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Catawba County, NC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 105.02
Census Tract 115.03
Census Tract 105.01

In 2023, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Catawba County, NC was Census Tract 105.02 with a value of $114,500, followed by Census Tract 115.03 and Census Tract 105.01, with respective values of $103,204 and $98,825.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Catawba County, NC colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$64,544

Median Household Income

± $1,989

65.2k

Number of Households

± 2,149

In 2023, the median household income of the 65.2k households in Catawba County, NC grew to $64,544 from the previous year's value of $62,070.

The following chart displays the households in Catawba County, NC distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Catawba County, NC is from North Carolina.

0.47

2022 Wage GINI in North Carolina

0.47

2021 Wage GINI in North Carolina

In 2022, the income inequality in North Carolina was 0.47 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.0732% decline from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for North Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in North Carolina in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in North Carolina across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (80.8%)
Carpooled (9.43%)
Worked At Home (7.52%)

In 2023, 80.8% of workers in Catawba County, NC drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (9.43%) and those who worked at home (7.52%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

22.7 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Catawba County, NC have a shorter commute time (22.7 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 2.06% of the workforce in Catawba County, NC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Catawba County, NC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Catawba County, NC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Catawba County, NC have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2023, 12.4% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Catawba County, NC. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator declined 0.156%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

12.8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Catawba County, NC (20.4k out of 159k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 45 - 54 and then Males 55 - 64.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Catawba County, NC is White, followed by Hispanic and Black.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2023, 17.9% of the children was living in poverty in Catawba County, NC. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator declined 11%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

88.2% of the population of Catawba County, NC has health coverage, with 44.1% on employee plans, 15.7% on Medicaid, 14.4% on Medicare, 12.6% on non-group plans, and 1.45% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Catawba County, NC see 1541 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.38% increase from the previous year (1520 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1685 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 401 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.6% were men and 51.4% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,541 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Catawba County, NC

Primary care physicians in Catawba County, NC see an average of 1,541 patients per year. This represents a 1.38% increase from the previous year (1,520 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Catawba County, NC in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 23.3% under 18 years, 19.2% between 18 and 34 years, 39.3% between 35 and 64 years, and 18.2% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.6% were men and 51.4% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

11.8%

Uninsured

44.1%

Employer Coverage

15.7%

Medicaid

14.4%

Medicare

12.6%

Non-Group

1.45%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Catawba County, NC declined by 0.533% from 11.8% to 11.8%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Catawba County, NC changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2023, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 43.4 in Catawba County, NC.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Catawba County, NC.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2023, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 29.9% in Catawba County, NC.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Catawba County, NC.