County · North Carolina

Caldwell County, North Carolina

Caldwell County, North Carolina. Caldwell County had 81,105 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.5% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). It holds 12 places (11 cities, villages and boroughs and 1 census-designated) and 19 census tracts. GEOID 37027.

Caldwell County is one of the 4 counties of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

81,105

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 80,652 · ACS 2020-2024: 80,536

Median household income

$56,425

±$2,209 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388

Median home value

$192,200

±$9,416 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900

Median gross rent

$744

±$24 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228

How many people live in Caldwell County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 80,652 residents in Caldwell County. The Census Bureau estimates 81,105 for July 1, 2025, up 0.5% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 80,536 over 472 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −53 (80,529)
2021→2022 −231 (80,298)
2022→2023 +361 (80,659)
2023→2024 +195 (80,854)
2024→2025 +251 (81,105)

Caldwell County in North Carolina. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Caldwell County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	80,536	10,730,404	−1,348
Households	32,919±534	4,282,345	no clear change
Average household size	2.42±0.04	2.44	no clear change
Housing units	37,387±44	4,895,668	−680

Caldwell County's population since 2000

From 77,415 in 2000 to 81,105 in 2025: up 4.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 77,415
2005 (estimate) 80,218
2010 Census 83,029
2015 (estimate) 81,554
2020 Census 80,652
2025 (estimate) 81,105

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Caldwell County?

Caldwell County holds 12 places: 11 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Lenoir with 18,372 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Caldwell County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Lenoir	city	18,352	18,299±64	$49,910	$179,400	14.6%	100%
Sawmills	town	5,020	5,042±31	$71,067	$219,600	9.9%	100%
Granite Falls	town	4,965	4,929±23	$56,917	$202,400	17.2%	100%
Hudson	town	3,780	3,772±17	$65,268	$223,000	13.6%	100%
Gamewell	town	3,702	3,689±15	$46,556	$170,100	21.5%	100%
Cajah's Mountain	town	2,722	2,704±26	$53,361	$201,800	13.9%	100%
NorthlakesGEOID 3747695	CDP	1,543	1,716±327	$101,250	$366,500	2.0%	100%
Rhodhiss	town	997	1,166±420	$63,125	$134,700	10.4%	36%
Cedar RockGEOID 3711352	village	301	306±113	$95,625	$424,500	2.0%	100%
Blowing Rock	town	1,376	992±243	$120,938	$705,000	2.4%	7%
Hickory	city	43,490	44,258±117	$64,576	$278,400	17.1%	0%
Rutherford College	town	1,226	1,374±379	$67,500	$185,600	7.7%	0%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Caldwell County?

The median resident of Caldwell County is 45.4 years old; 19.7% are under 18 and 21.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 85.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 6.7%. 3.0% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Caldwell County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	45.4±0.4	39.1	+0.8
Under 18 years	19.7%±0.1 pts	21.8%	–
65 years and over	21.4%±0.2 pts	17.2%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	6.7%	11.3%	+1.2 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	85.3%±0.1 pts	60.0%	−2.0 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	4.1%±0.6 pts	20.0%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.5%±0.1 pts	3.3%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.8%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.2%±0.6 pts	4.1%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	3.0%±0.6 pts	9.1%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	5.6%±0.8 pts	13.5%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.8%±0.7 pts	7.4%	–
With a disability	18.4%±1.4 pts	13.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	10.5%±1.1 pts	9.9%	−1.8 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	84.9%±1.3 pts	90.1%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	18.8%±1.5 pts	35.7%	+3.1 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	6.2%±1.0 pts	13.5%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.5%±0.7 pts	3.0%	–

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 Caldwell County earn?

Half of Caldwell County's 32,919 households earn less than $56,425 a year (±$2,209), against $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $54,779 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.4% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Caldwell County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$56,425±$2,209	$72,388	no clear change
Mean household income	$75,197±$3,298	$101,208	–
Per capita income	$31,914±$1,263	$41,385	+$2,539
People below the poverty line	13.4%±1.6 pts	13.0%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	19.6%±4.3 pts	17.7%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	14.3%±1.9 pts	12.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	86.4%±1.7 pts	90.1%	–

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 Caldwell County?

Owners occupy 73.5% of Caldwell County's occupied homes and renters 26.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $192,200 by its owner (±$9,416). The median renter pays $744 a month including utilities, and 31.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Caldwell County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$192,200±$9,416	$288,900	+$46,855
Median gross rent	$744±$24	$1,228	−$50
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	31.1%±5.1 pts	39.6%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,191±$37	$1,631	–
Owner-occupied homes	73.5%±2.1 pts	66.6%	no clear change
Housing units	37,387±44	4,895,668	−680
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.7%±0.9 pts	1.3%	–
Rental vacancy rate	3.9%±2.0 pts	7.1%	–
Single-family detached homes	73.2%±2.2 pts	65.3%	–
Mobile homes	15.0%±1.6 pts	11.0%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.9%±0.3 pts	3.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	5.7%±0.9 pts	4.9%	–

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 many new homes is Caldwell County building?

Builders took permits for 501 new housing units across Caldwell County in 2025 (499 single-family), 6.2 per 1,000 residents.

2019 73 units
2020 231 units
2021 262 units
2022 281 units
2023 246 units
2024 224 units
2025 501 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Caldwell County get to work?

81.6% of Caldwell County's workers drive alone and 7.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.0%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Caldwell County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	58.4%±1.5 pts	62.8%	–
Unemployment rate	5.0%±1.3 pts	4.7%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	81.6%±2.0 pts	71.5%	–
Carpooled	9.8%±1.7 pts	8.5%	–
Public transportation	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.7%	–
Walked	0.6%±0.3 pts	1.6%	–
Worked from home	7.1%±1.4 pts	16.3%	+3.7 pts
Mean travel time to work	25.9 min±1.4	25.1 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 are Caldwell County's census tracts?

Caldwell County is divided into 19 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $41,180 (Tract 304) to $100,500 (Tract 313.01).

Census tracts of Caldwell County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 30137027030100	Lenoir	5,614	5,643±724	$46,628	$158,000	$606	20.1%
Tract 30237027030200	Lenoir (38%)	5,208	5,365±941	$55,386	$127,100	$832	10.3%
Tract 30337027030300	Lenoir (42%)	3,798	4,118±644	$48,456	$148,800	$732	8.8%
Tract 30437027030400	Lenoir (50%)	4,547	4,188±477	$41,180	$124,200	$645	19.8%
Tract 30537027030500	Lenoir (85%)	4,792	5,104±610	$70,512	$238,400	$702	9.0%
Tract 30637027030600	Hudson (52%)	4,438	4,798±522	$65,729	$217,100	$694	8.2%
Tract 30737027030700	Sawmills (27%)	6,690	7,006±682	$57,733	$206,100	$711	14.4%
Tract 308.0137027030801	Cajah's Mountain (30%)	3,538	3,179±448	$56,510	$167,400	$1,091	17.7%
Tract 308.0237027030802	Gamewell (39%)	4,108	3,907±510	$42,841	$150,700	$817	25.7%
Tract 30937027030900	Gamewell (7%)	4,686	5,455±1,069	$44,919	$207,600	$943	20.4%
Tract 31037027031000	Blowing Rock (7%)	2,804	2,598±521	$49,323	$164,300	$812	5.4%
Tract 31137027031100	Lenoir (18%)	4,277	4,357±661	$68,723	$238,500	$909	6.0%
Tract 312.0137027031201	Cedar Rock (12%)	4,300	3,862±382	$56,477	$216,300	$780	8.8%
Tract 312.0237027031202	Lenoir (10%)	4,327	4,560±927	$61,941	$156,300	$731	16.4%
Tract 313.0137027031301	Northlakes (27%)	4,394	4,328±529	$100,500	$353,500	$1,137	4.2%
Tract 313.0237027031302	Granite Falls (20%)	4,084	4,229±688	$68,095	$215,100	$902	16.2%
Tract 314.0137027031401	Sawmills (33%)	3,191	2,837±491	$65,990	$205,500	$902	15.7%
Tract 314.0237027031402	Granite Falls (54%)	3,519	3,074±414	$75,524	$185,100	$856	5.1%
Tract 314.0337027031403	Granite Falls (39%)	2,337	1,928±357	$44,928	$214,300	$840	19.7%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Caldwell County compare with North Carolina's other counties?

Caldwell County's rank among North Carolina's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	34th of 100
Growth 2020-2025	82nd of 100
Residents per square mile	33rd of 100
Median household income	68th of 100
Median home value	65th of 100
Median gross rent	91st of 100
Poverty rate	59th of 100
Bachelor's degree or higher	72nd of 100
Median age	34th of 100

Every county in North Carolina

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Caldwell County 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.