The Town FilesBelwood, North Carolina
Town in Cleveland County · population 857 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $214,500
- Household income
- $51,299
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 46.9
Belwood is a town of 857 people in Cleveland County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $214,500, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 90% of North Carolina towns, more of a college town than 88% of North Carolina towns, better for families than 81% of North Carolina towns.
How Belwood ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Belwood is worth $214,500, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $51,299, which is more affordable than 36% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $860 a month. 78.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Belwood | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $214,500 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $860 | $969 |
| Median household income | $51,299 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 78.3% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Belwood
| People | Belwood | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.8% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 38.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Belwood
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 27.3°F. About 50.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belwood since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 5, 1989 about 1.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 67 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 11, 2008.
Severe weather in Cleveland County since 1996
Cleveland County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Cleveland County
Cleveland County had 36,696 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,753 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Belwood itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Belwood
1 public school with 351 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Brook Elementary | PK-5 | 351 | 14.6 |
Towns near Belwood
- Fallston, NC4.1 mi · 627 people · home $88,600
- Lawndale, NC5.2 mi · 570 people · home $116,800
- Polkville, NC8.1 mi · 516 people · home $179,500
- Kingstown, NC9.9 mi · 656 people · home $92,400
- Cherryville, NC10.8 mi · 6,078 people · home $232,100
- Shelby, NC13.4 mi · 21,918 people · home $197,200
- Light Oak, NC13.9 mi · 697 people · home $89,200
- Lincolnton, NC16.2 mi · 11,091 people · home $248,700
Belwood questions
Is Belwood, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Belwood scores better for retirees than 58% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 61%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.9).
How much does a house cost in Belwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Belwood is valued at $214,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,299, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $860 a month.
What is the weather like in Belwood?
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 27.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.6 inches of precipitation a year and 3.1 inches of snow.
Does Belwood get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 5, 1989. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)