City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Catawba, NC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Catawba - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

632
Residents
$44,659
Median income
$138,100
Median home
$1,095
Median rent (state)

Catawba - the verdict

Catawba ranks in the 12th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

12th
percentile, household income
23rd
percentile, home value
28th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Catawba, NC

Catawba is a small town in North Carolina, home to 632 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $44,659 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 13.6%. Home values in Catawba run a median of $138,100, and the median resident age is 38.3 years. About 7.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 50.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA puts Catawba's yearly average temperature at 60.1°F with 46.6 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: the state registers 94.3 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,095 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts North Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $215 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 80.6 out of 100 (High).

Population

632 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$44,659 /yr

Poverty 13.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Catawba compare to other US cities?

Here's how Catawba stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 12% higher than other cities
Home value 23% pricier than other cities
Median rent 28% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Catawba against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Carolina-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Catawba near the bottom of North Carolina's cities

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Catawba ranks #670 - the 10th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Catawba only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#524 of 700
25th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#389 of 746
42nd percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#512 of 708
28th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#276 of 746
62nd percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#670 of 746
10th percentile in North Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within North Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

12thIncome percentile

12th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Catawba's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$138,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 77% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Catawba $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Catawba, NC Catawba, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Catawba, NC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Catawba, NC median $44,659/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Catawba, NC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Catawba, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 7.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 50.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
632
Median Income
$44,659
Median Home Value
$138,100
Median Age
38.3
Poverty Rate
13.6%
Labor force participation
50.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
7.4%

Climate

Avg Temperature
60.1°F
Annual Precipitation
46.6"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
680 residents700 residents720 residents740 residents 202020212022202320242025 700 residents 736 residents ▲ +5.1%
Catawba's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
91.5%
Carpool
3.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
3.3%
Other
1.5%

Based on 272 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Catawba sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,095/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
80.6 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Cliffside
630 people
Alexis
635 people
Garysburg
636 people
Mamers
636 people
Seaboard
624 people
Old Fort
643 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Catawba's 632 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

New Boston, IL
632 people
Ravenna, KY
632 people
Deal, NJ
632 people
Evans Mills, NY
632 people
Graford, TX
632 people
Warren, TX
632 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Catawba's $44,659 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Randolph, IA
$44,659 median income
Sweetwater, TN
$44,661 median income
Knightstown, IN
$44,655 median income
Eminence, KY
$44,655 median income
Moraine, OH
$44,648 median income
Bowdon, GA
$44,674 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Catawba, NC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Catawba, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 77.1% 19.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.3% White 77.1% Black or African American 19.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.9% Two or more races 3.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Catawba compares to nearby North Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Catawba (this city) 632 $44,659
Cliffside 630 N/A
Alexis 635 $53,708
Garysburg 636 $37,500
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Catawba, NC?

What is the population of Catawba, NC? +

The population of Catawba, NC stands at 632 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Catawba, NC? +

The median household income in Catawba is $44,659 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Catawba? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Catawba; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Catawba, NC? +

Homes in Catawba carry a median value of $138,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Catawba? +

Catawba has an average annual temperature of 60.1°F, 46.6 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.