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Lawndale, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Cleveland County County

2.7 /5.0
C+ Fair
585 Population 722/sq mi density
$31,691 Median Income $21,712 per capita
$105,600 Home Value $73,612 Zillow
$827 Median Rent 33.1% income on rent
59°F Avg Temperature 301 sunny days/yr
718 Violent Crime/100K 3,522 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.7 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.3 / 5.0
$31,691 median income, 2.2% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.8 / 5.0
$105,600 home value, $827/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
718 violent crimes/100K (89% above avg)
D
Education
1.8 / 5.0
10.1% bachelor's degree or higher
Lawndale enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 50.4 inches. The area receives 4.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

40°F Jan (4°C) 78°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average59.2°F
10% above US avg
January Average40°F (4°C)
July Average78°F (26°C)
Sunny Days301 days/yr

Geography

Elevation839 ft (256 m)
Area0.8 sq mi (2.1 km²)
Population Density722/sq mi
Coordinates35.4144°N, 81.5621°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyCleveland County County
Nearest AirportHickory Regional (HKY)
25 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 50.4"
33% above US avg
Snowfall 4.0"
Wettest Month (Mar) 4.96"
Driest Month (Apr) 3.46"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score70.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability44.1 / 100
Community Resilience33.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

32 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.9. Most recent: M2.5 on Aug 23, 2025.

Apr 13, 1998 9 km S of Kershaw, South Carolina M3.9 137 km
Jun 16, 2006 9 km W of Maggie Valley, North Carolina M3.4 149 km
Jun 26, 1995 6 km NNW of Trout Dale, Virginia M3.4 149 km
Jun 4, 2023 4 km NNW of West Canton, North Carolina M3.2 120 km
Jun 5, 1998 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina M3.2 72 km
Aug 23, 2025 3 km N of Coronaca, South Carolina M3.0 134 km
Jul 7, 1995 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee M3.0 122 km
Jan 1, 1993 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina M3.0 70 km
Aug 4, 2007 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M3.0 48 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 84 km
Feb 18, 2005 7 km ENE of Irmo, South Carolina M2.9 150 km
Aug 23, 2025 3 km NNW of Coronaca, South Carolina M2.9 135 km
Mar 6, 2006 3 km W of Burnsville, North Carolina M2.8 89 km
Feb 12, 2021 8 km SW of Banner Hill, Tennessee M2.8 110 km
May 23, 2023 4 km N of West Canton, North Carolina M2.8 119 km
Aug 14, 2025 7 km N of Columbus, North Carolina M2.7 59 km
Mar 21, 2004 16 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M2.7 46 km
Aug 30, 2010 7 km ENE of Mountain City, Tennessee M2.7 120 km
Jun 10, 2018 2 km NE of Hays, North Carolina M2.7 104 km
Aug 17, 2021 6 km N of Morganton, North Carolina M2.7 45 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

2 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 2. Most recent: Fran (1996, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
1996 Fran Category 1 261 km
1989 Hugo Category 4 90 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

338 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 17 fatalities, 290 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 7, 1998 EF4 53 km 0
May 5, 1989 EF4 6 km 4
May 5, 1989 EF4 90 km 1
May 5, 1989 EF4 50 km 2
Aug 16, 1994 EF3 87 km 0
Mar 27, 1994 EF3 54 km 0
Oct 18, 1990 EF3 94 km 0
May 10, 1952 EF3 93 km 2
May 26, 2022 EF2 82 km 0
Apr 25, 2020 EF2 95 km 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 91 km 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 30 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 40 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 37 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 63 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 82 km 0
Mar 3, 2012 EF2 81 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 28 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 22 km 0
Nov 16, 2011 EF2 75 km 3
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: BRUSHY RIDGE (12,405 ac, 2000).

Year Name Acres Distance
2000 BRUSHY RIDGE 12,405 58 km
2016 PARTY ROCK 8,572 62 km
2007 LINVILLE COMPLEX (DOBSON KNOB) 7,151 56 km
2016 CHESTNUT KNOB 6,418 24 km
2010 BURNING UNIT 5,567 81 km
1985 UNNAMED 4,610 33 km
2022 LOST BEAR RX FY2022 4,276 68 km
2017 WHITE CREEK 4,166 55 km
2016 CLEAR CREEK 3,493 60 km
2016 UNNAMED 2,976 59 km
2015 UNNAMED 2,690 97 km
2000 TIPTON HILL 2,661 96 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,514 98 km
2009 UNNAMED 2,458 100 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,395 89 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,362 91 km
2013 UNNAMED 2,274 100 km
2013 UNNAMED 2,237 98 km
2013 LOST BEAR EAST 2,167 67 km
2021 UNNAMED 2,024 94 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 40°F (4°C) 4.1 in Coldest
February 42°F (6°C) 4.1 in
March 50°F (10°C) 5.0 in Wettest
April 58°F (14°C) 3.5 in Driest
May 66°F (19°C) 4.4 in
June 73°F (23°C) 4.5 in
July 78°F (26°C) 4.2 in Warmest
August 76°F (24°C) 4.3 in
September 70°F (21°C) 3.9 in
October 59°F (15°C) 3.7 in
November 50°F (10°C) 3.6 in
December 42°F (5°C) 3.9 in

Lawndale has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 40°F in January to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 49.2 inches, with March being the wettest month (5.0") and April the driest (3.5").

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