The Town FilesClaremont, North Carolina
City in Catawba County · population 1,692 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $255,300
- Household income
- $66,667
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 39.8
Claremont is a city of 1,692 people in Catawba County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $255,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 88% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 79% of North Carolina towns.
How Claremont 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 Claremont is worth $255,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $66,667, which is more affordable than 49% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $938 a month. 61.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Claremont | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $255,300 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $938 | $969 |
| Median household income | $66,667 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 61.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Claremont
| People | Claremont | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in Claremont
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 3.5 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
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Claremont since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 26, 2010 about 0.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 80 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 Claremont itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Public schools in Claremont
5 public schools with 2,733 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bunker Hill High | 9-12 | 883 | 18.4 |
| Oxford Elementary | PK-6 | 547 | 14.0 |
| River Bend Middle | 7-8 | 442 | 16.4 |
| Claremont Elementary | PK-6 | 440 | 13.3 |
| Mill Creek Middle | 7-8 | 421 | 16.2 |
Towns near Claremont
- Conover, NC3.4 mi · 8,421 people · home $271,300
- Catawba, NC4.8 mi · 702 people · home $163,000
- Newton, NC5.4 mi · 13,148 people · home $186,300
- St. Stephens, NC7.6 mi · 8,852 people · home $213,300
- Maiden, NC9.2 mi · 3,736 people · home $233,800
- Hickory, NC9.6 mi · 43,490 people · home $278,400
- Bethlehem, NC11.1 mi · 4,491 people · home $327,000
- Lake Norman of Catawba, NC12.1 mi · 8,658 people · home $492,600
Claremont questions
Is Claremont, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Claremont scores better for retirees than 41% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 55%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Claremont?
The median owner-occupied home in Claremont is valued at $255,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,667, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $938 a month.
What is the weather like in Claremont?
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 3.5 inches of snow.
Does Claremont get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Claremont 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)