At a Glance
Median Income
$55,385
$29,684 per capita
Home Value
$198,100
Zillow: $327,025
Median Rent
$1,525/mo
30.3% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
25.0%
86.3% high school+
Unemployment
11.4%
21.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
37.6%
13.7% smoking rate
How Catawba Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Catawba's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Catawba a Good Place to Live?
B
3.3 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Catawba residents earn a median household income of $55,385 , which is 26% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $29,684. The unemployment rate stands at 11.4% (217% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 21.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 2,236 business establishments, including 162 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Catawba is $198,100 , 30% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $327,025. Median rent is $1,525/month, with 30.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 93.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1994.
Education
25.0% of adults in Catawba hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(26% below the national average).
86.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.0/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Catawba has an average annual temperature of 61°F (16°C).
Winters average 42°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 45.4 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population1,225
Median Age37.9 yrs
Density123/mi²
Male / Female57% / 43%
Foreign Born2.6%
Veterans5.2%
Economy
C
Median Income$55,385
Per Capita$29,684
Unemployment11.4%
Poverty21.2%
County GDP$5,253M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,241
Housing
A+
Home Value$198,100
Rent$1,525
Ownership72.9%
Zillow$327,025
Housing Units648
Rent Burden30.3%
Health
Obesity37.6%
Diabetes10.7%
Smoking13.7%
Heart Disease5.2%
Premature Death11,214/100K
Climate
Avg Temp61°F
Rain45.4 in/yr
Elevation513 ft
Education
B
Bachelor's+25.0%
High School+86.3%
Graduate+3.7%
School Score5.0/10
Community
2024 VoteR 62% / D 37%
Commute38 min
Broadband86.5%
Internet Speed73 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries3
Did You Know?
The median home in Catawba was built in 1994.
The nearest airport is Charlotte/Douglas International (26 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.459 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
8.6% of the population has a disability.
There are 162 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 14 fatal vehicle crashes.