The Town FilesLenoir, North Carolina
City in Caldwell County · population 18,352 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $179,400
- Household income
- $49,910
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 45.7
Lenoir is a city of 18,352 people in Caldwell County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $179,400, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more vibrant than 85% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 81% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 75% of North Carolina towns.
How Lenoir 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 Lenoir is worth $179,400, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $49,910, which is more affordable than 57% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $664 a month. 64.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lenoir | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $179,400 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $664 | $969 |
| Median household income | $49,910 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 64.2% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lenoir
| People | Lenoir | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.2% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.6% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.1% | — |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.0% | 89.5% |
Weather in Lenoir
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 27.3°F. About 49.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 91 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lenoir since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 7, 1998 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 8, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 16, 1998.
Severe weather in Caldwell County since 1996
Caldwell County has been included in 23 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 |
| March 3, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4588: Tropical Storm Eta |
Jobs and pay in Caldwell County
Caldwell County had 25,506 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,605 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Lenoir itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Lenoir
14 public schools with 5,146 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hibriten High | 9-12 | 811 | 15.9 |
| West Caldwell High | 9-12 | 687 | 14.6 |
| Gamewell Elementary | PK-5 | 519 | 15.3 |
| William Lenoir Middle | 6-8 | 514 | 16.1 |
| Gamewell Middle | 6-8 | 486 | 14.7 |
| Davenport A+ School | PK-5 | 446 | 13.9 |
| Lower Creek Elementary | PK-5 | 383 | 15.3 |
| Valmead Elementary | PK-5 | 275 | 13.1 |
| Whitnel Elementary | PK-5 | 267 | 12.1 |
| Happy Valley Elementary | PK-8 | 223 | 13.9 |
| Oak Hill Charter School (charter) | K-8 | 207 | 17.3 |
| Caldwell Online Academy | 4-12 | 151 | 15.1 |
Towns near Lenoir
- Cajah's Mountain, NC4.0 mi · 2,722 people · home $201,800
- Hudson, NC4.7 mi · 3,780 people · home $223,000
- Gamewell, NC5.1 mi · 3,702 people · home $170,100
- Sawmills, NC6.8 mi · 5,020 people · home $219,600
- Granite Falls, NC9.5 mi · 4,965 people · home $202,400
- Valdese, NC10.8 mi · 4,689 people · home $209,800
- Bethlehem, NC14.0 mi · 4,491 people · home $327,000
- Long View, NC15.0 mi · 5,088 people · home $157,300
Lenoir questions
Is Lenoir, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lenoir scores better for retirees than 34% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 35%. 22.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.7).
How much does a house cost in Lenoir?
The median owner-occupied home in Lenoir is valued at $179,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,910, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $664 a month.
What is the weather like in Lenoir?
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 27.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.7 inches of precipitation a year and 4.1 inches of snow.
Does Lenoir get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lenoir since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 7, 1998. 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)