The Town FilesCatawba, North Carolina
Town in Catawba County · population 702 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $163,000
- Household income
- $47,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 35.8
Catawba is a town of 702 people in Catawba County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $163,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for families than 90% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 88% of North Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 85% of North Carolina towns.
How Catawba 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 Catawba is worth $163,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $47,250, which is more affordable than 66% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,118 a month. 71.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Catawba | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,118 | $969 |
| Median household income | $47,250 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 71.3% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.1% | — |
Who lives in Catawba
| People | Catawba | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 6.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 30.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in Catawba
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 31.3°F. About 46.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.7 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 53 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Catawba since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 26, 2010 about 3.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 4 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 20, 2006.
Severe weather in Catawba County since 1996
Catawba County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 Catawba County
Catawba County had 89,388 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,761 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Catawba itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Catawba
3 public schools with 1,344 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandys High | 9-12 | 923 | 18.8 |
| Catawba Elementary School | PK-6 | 421 | 14.0 |
| Catawba Rosenwald Education Center | K-12 | — | — |
Towns near Catawba
- Claremont, NC4.8 mi · 1,692 people · home $255,300
- Conover, NC8.2 mi · 8,421 people · home $271,300
- Lake Norman of Catawba, NC8.8 mi · 8,658 people · home $492,600
- Newton, NC9.7 mi · 13,148 people · home $186,300
- Stony Point, NC11.2 mi · 1,146 people · home $171,800
- Denver, NC11.3 mi · 2,697 people · home $296,300
- Troutman, NC11.4 mi · 3,698 people · home $398,800
- St. Stephens, NC12.1 mi · 8,852 people · home $213,300
Catawba questions
Is Catawba, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Catawba scores better for retirees than 69% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 88%. 6.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.8).
How much does a house cost in Catawba?
The median owner-occupied home in Catawba is valued at $163,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,250, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,118 a month.
What is the weather like in Catawba?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 31.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 3.7 inches of snow.
Does Catawba get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Catawba since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 26, 2010. 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)