Caldwell County, NC

This county of 81,138 residents needs 798 more housing units over the next five years. Caldwell County is part of the Greater Hickory MPO.

Housing snapshot

Population
81,138 (2026)
Households
33,015
Median household income
$62,772 (2026)
Typical home value
$217,706
Owner-occupied
65%
Five-year housing need
798 units

Comparison to other North Carolina counties

Caldwell County: $62,772 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$45K >$102K
Caldwell County: 0.8 jobs to household ratio
<0.27 >1.4
Caldwell County: Permits since 2021 represent 4.0% of housing
<0.3% >18.2%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

In Caldwell County, NC, the typical home price of $217,706 is below the North Carolina average of $264,457. Caldwell County, NC's median household income of $62,772 comfortably exceeds what is needed to afford the typical home, making this a relatively affordable market.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Caldwell County, NC has a population of roughly 80,536 that has been largely stable in recent years.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Caldwell County, NC has roughly 33,015 households and a population that has been largely stable in recent years.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Caldwell County, NC is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 73% of units. Homeownership is the norm in Caldwell County, NC, with 65% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Caldwell County, NC needs 798 new units over the next 5 years.

798
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
449
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 2.4 per 1,000 units.
349
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 3.9%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
798
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
160
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
2.1%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
0.4%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How do these communities compare to each other?