The Town FilesLawndale, North Carolina
Town in Cleveland County · population 570 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,800
- Household income
- $39,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 34.3
Lawndale is a town of 570 people in Cleveland County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $116,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 98% of North Carolina towns, more of a college town than 78% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 71% of North Carolina towns.
How Lawndale 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 Lawndale is worth $116,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $39,250, which is more affordable than 80% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $880 a month. 71.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lawndale | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $880 | $969 |
| Median household income | $39,250 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 71.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lawndale
| People | Lawndale | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.3 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 31.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.4% | 89.5% |
Weather in Lawndale
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 26.9°F. About 50.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.0 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 88 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lawndale since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 5, 1989 about 4.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 56 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 16, 1980.
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 Lawndale itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Lawndale
2 public schools with 1,678 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burns High | 9-12 | 922 | 16.2 |
| Burns Middle | 6-8 | 756 | 18.0 |
Towns near Lawndale
- Fallston, NC3.5 mi · 627 people · home $88,600
- Polkville, NC4.6 mi · 516 people · home $179,500
- Kingstown, NC4.9 mi · 656 people · home $92,400
- Belwood, NC5.2 mi · 857 people · home $214,500
- Shelby, NC8.6 mi · 21,918 people · home $197,200
- Light Oak, NC10.0 mi · 697 people · home $89,200
- Cherryville, NC10.5 mi · 6,078 people · home $232,100
- Boiling Springs, NC12.6 mi · 4,615 people · home $265,400
Lawndale questions
Is Lawndale, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lawndale scores better for retirees than 61% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 71%. 9.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.3).
How much does a house cost in Lawndale?
The median owner-occupied home in Lawndale is valued at $116,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,250, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $880 a month.
What is the weather like in Lawndale?
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 26.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.4 inches of precipitation a year and 4.0 inches of snow.
Does Lawndale get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lawndale 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)