The Town FilesCleveland, North Carolina
Town in Rowan County · population 846 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $242,600
- Household income
- $58,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 37.0
Cleveland is a town of 846 people in Rowan County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $242,600, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 98% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 93% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 76% of North Carolina towns.
How Cleveland 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 Cleveland is worth $242,600, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $58,750, which is more affordable than 41% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $739 a month. 79.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cleveland | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $242,600 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $739 | $969 |
| Median household income | $58,750 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 79.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.5% | — |
Who lives in Cleveland
| People | Cleveland | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.2% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.2% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in Cleveland
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 27.2°F. About 44.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.7 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 93 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cleveland since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 24, 2017 about 7.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 11, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 26, 2023.
Severe weather in Rowan County since 1996
Rowan County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Rowan County
Rowan County had 50,595 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,503 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Cleveland itself the ACS puts it at 11.2%.
Public schools in Cleveland
4 public schools with 2,391 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Rowan High | 9-12 | 1,105 | 19.4 |
| West Rowan Elementary | PK-5 | 618 | 16.3 |
| Cool Spring Elementary | PK-5 | 422 | 13.6 |
| Mt Ulla Elementary | K-5 | 246 | 14.5 |
Towns near Cleveland
- Cooleemee, NC8.8 mi · 940 people · home $144,600
- Troutman, NC10.9 mi · 3,698 people · home $398,800
- Statesville, NC11.2 mi · 28,419 people · home $248,000
- Salisbury, NC11.6 mi · 35,540 people · home $242,500
- China Grove, NC12.6 mi · 4,434 people · home $225,800
- Mooresville, NC13.2 mi · 50,193 people · home $390,900
- Landis, NC13.3 mi · 3,690 people · home $252,100
- Mocksville, NC13.3 mi · 5,900 people · home $240,700
Cleveland questions
Is Cleveland, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cleveland scores better for retirees than 23% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 76%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in Cleveland?
The median owner-occupied home in Cleveland is valued at $242,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,750, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $739 a month.
What is the weather like in Cleveland?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 27.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.3 inches of precipitation a year and 3.7 inches of snow.
Does Cleveland get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cleveland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 24, 2017. 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)