Catawba County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Catawba County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Catawba County Below averageWealthier than 73% of counties in North Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Catawba County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $67,947 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,780 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.2% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.6% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.3% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Catawba County is about 6% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Catawba County (5.2%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Catawba County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Catawba County, North Carolina grew by 56.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $67,947 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Catawba County
| Metric | Catawba County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.527 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,907 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,679 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.1% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Catawba County, it is 0.527, lower than North Carolina's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 24% more than women's income in Catawba County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 24% wage gap accumulates to roughly $392,980 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Catawba County, North Carolina has widened from about 16% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,032 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Catawba County widened by 2.6 points while North Carolina's narrowed by 3.0 points.
Employment
| Metric | Catawba County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.2% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 2,937 people are unemployed in Catawba County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Catawba County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Catawba County, North Carolina has fallen from 9.1% to 3.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.5% in 2013.
Catawba County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Catawba County, NC is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 163,556 residents against a local median of 92,729. Catawba County, NC's unemployment, at 3.7%, runs 23% below the 4.7% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.7% on unemployment, so Catawba County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Catawba County, NC has the 2nd lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catawba County, NC | 163,556 | $67,947 #3/6 | 5.2%/yr #6/6 | 3.7% #2/6 | 0.527 #3/6 |
| Lincoln County, NC | 92,729 | $78,296 | 6.1%/yr | 3.3% | 0.542 |
| Alexander County, NC | 36,412 | $64,655 | 6.1%/yr | 5.0% | 0.525 |
| Gaston County, NC | 234,809 | $67,093 | 5.3%/yr | 4.7% | 0.538 |
| Iredell County, NC | 196,543 | $81,685 | 5.3%/yr | 4.2% | 0.541 |
| Caldwell County, NC | 80,517 | $56,350 | 5.3%/yr | 5.0% | 0.521 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Catawba County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with North Carolina, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Catawba County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Catawba County, North Carolina?
Catawba County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $67,947, about 6% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How fast is household income rising in Catawba County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Catawba County, North Carolina rose 57%, from $43,313 to $67,947. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +57% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Catawba County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Catawba County, North Carolina was $64,928, up 5% from $62,088 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Catawba County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Catawba County, North Carolina was $54,549. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $67,947.
What is the Gini coefficient in Catawba County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Catawba County is 0.527. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Catawba County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Catawba County, North Carolina has widened from about 16% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,032 since 2009.
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