Census-designated place · North Carolina
St. Stephens, North Carolina
St. Stephens, census-designated place, in Catawba County, North Carolina. St. Stephens had 9,457 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±913). GEOID 3758730.
Residents, 2020-2024
9,457
±913 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 8,852
Median household income
$60,394
±$7,053 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$213,300
±$14,666 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$958
±$94 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
Where is St. Stephens and what county is it in?
St. Stephens is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Catawba County, North Carolina. It covers 9.1 square miles of land, 976 residents per square mile in 2020.
St. Stephens is in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 4 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in St. Stephens, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts St. Stephens's population at 9,457 (±913). The 2020 Census counted 8,852 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; St. Stephens is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | St. Stephens | Catawba County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 9,457 ±913 | 163,573 | no clear change |
| Households | 3,969 ±454 | 66,227 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.38 ±0.15 | 2.43 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,179 ±458 | 73,133 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in St. Stephens?
The median resident of St. Stephens is 43.2 years old; 22.9% are under 18 and 20.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 65.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 16.7%. 11.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | St. Stephens | Catawba County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 ±2.3 | 42.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.9% ±3.4 pts | 21.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.3% ±3.6 pts | 18.7% | – |
| Male | 50.9% ±3.1 pts | 49.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 16.7% ±4.9 pts | 11.5% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 65.4% ±6.2 pts | 71.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.4% ±2.4 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.9% ±3.2 pts | 4.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 8.6% ±4.5 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 11.1% ±4.5 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 19.8% ±6.8 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.1% ±1.8 pts | 6.3% | – |
| With a disability | 12.1% ±2.7 pts | 13.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.6% ±2.2 pts | 10.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.8% ±3.9 pts | 88.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 25.7% ±4.8 pts | 26.1% | +7.3 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.0% ±2.4 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 97.6% ±1.8 pts | 90.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.1% ±1.5 pts | 1.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in St. Stephens earn?
Half of St. Stephens's 3,969 households earn less than $60,394 a year (±$7,053), against $67,864 in Catawba County and $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $59,358 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 16.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | St. Stephens | Catawba County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $60,394 ±$7,053 | $67,864 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $78,948 ±$11,731 | $90,959 | – |
| Per capita income | $32,972 ±$5,193 | $37,462 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 16.2% ±6.8 pts | 12.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 22.4% ±12.9 pts | 17.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.8% ±4.3 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.2% ±2.7 pts | 94.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.4% ±3.8 pts | 88.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in St. Stephens?
Owners occupy 83.6% of St. Stephens's occupied homes and renters 16.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $213,300 by its owner (±$14,666). The median renter pays $958 a month including utilities, and 51.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | St. Stephens | Catawba County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $213,300 ±$14,666 | $241,600 | +$50,725 |
| Median gross rent | $958 ±$94 | $965 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 51.0% ±18.0 pts | 28.7% | +27.2 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,227 ±$115 | $1,343 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 83.6% ±4.5 pts | 72.2% | +12.9 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 16.4% ±4.5 pts | 27.8% | – |
| Housing units | 4,179 ±458 | 73,133 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.5% ±1.7 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.3% ±6.8 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 76.8% ±6.2 pts | 68.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 9.3% ±2.9 pts | 11.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.2% ±4.6 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.1% ±1.2 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.6% ±3.0 pts | 5.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in St. Stephens work and get to work?
87.7% of St. Stephens's workers drive alone and 5.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 1.1%.
| Measure | St. Stephens | Catawba County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 59.3% ±5.1 pts | 60.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.1% ±0.7 pts | 3.7% | −9.4 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 87.7% ±3.9 pts | 79.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.7% ±3.1 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.5% ±3.0 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.3 min ±2.4 | 23.4 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in St. Stephens?
1 census tract lies mostly in St. Stephens, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 103.03Catawba County | 4,633 | $61,630 |
| Tract 103.02Catawba County | 6,020 | $78,167 |
| Tract 103.04Catawba County | 4,316 | $62,772 |
| Tract 103.01Catawba County | 5,412 | $70,353 |
| Tract 104.03Catawba County | 5,559 | $46,955 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in St. Stephens) · Census block assignment files
How does St. Stephens compare with other places in North Carolina?
St. Stephens ranks 238th of 434 places in North Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 102nd | 443 |
| Residents per square mile | 200th | 443 |
| Median household income | 238th | 434 |
| Per capita income | 225th | 443 |
| Median home value | 268th | 438 |
| Median gross rent | 223rd | 395 |
| Poverty rate | 168th | 341 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 219th | 421 |
| Median age | 160th | 442 |
| Owner-occupied share | 88th | 443 |
| Work from home | 263rd | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 283rd | 439 |
St. Stephens's figures with every place in North Carolina (CSV)
Every place in North Carolina, sortable · Compare St. Stephens with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for St. Stephens?
11 of the 57 figures for St. Stephens on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for St. Stephens are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.