County profile · North Carolina
Caldwell County, NC market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Caldwell County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 81,105
- +0.7% since 2020
- Households
- 32,919
- Median household income
- $56,425
- +26.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $192,200
- Jobs located here
- 26,485
- Highest market score
- 67
- Spas and skin care, #290 of 1,769 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Caldwell County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Caldwell County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 81,105 people live in Caldwell County, in 32,919 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Caldwell County grew 0.7%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Caldwell County is $56,425 a year, 30% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 26.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Caldwell County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 137, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (55).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Caldwell County are for spas and skin care studios (67), veterinarians (66) and funeral homes (63). Caldwell County ranks #290 of 1,769 scored counties for spas and skin care studios.
Caldwell County is part of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metro area. For its number of households, Caldwell County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for house cleaning businesses (64% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for spas and skin care studios (71% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Caldwell County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Caldwell County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spas and skin care | 67 | #290 of 1,769 | 11 | 3.3 | $2.3M | 265 | 3 |
| Veterinarians | 66 | #358 of 1,485 | 8 | 2.4 | $3.1M | 114 | 4 |
| Funeral homes | 63 | #411 of 1,472 | 8 | 2.4 | $650K | 96 | 4 |
| Hair salons | 62 | #586 of 2,339 | 47 | 14.3 | $543K | 126 | 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 61 | #613 of 2,385 | 84 | 25.5 | $304K | 143 | 8 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 60 | #480 of 1,707 | 13 | 3.9 | $6.3M | 133 | 24 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 60 | #551 of 2,176 | 38 | 11.5 | Index only | 215 | 16 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 60 | #670 of 2,087 | 24 | 7.3 | $2.2M | 176 | 10 |
| Insurance agencies | 59 | #804 of 2,272 | 49 | 14.9 | $1.8M | 144 | 34 |
| Physical therapy | 58 | #490 of 1,422 | 6 | 1.8 | $5.3M | 222 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 57 | #690 of 2,057 | 26 | 7.9 | $3.2M | 130 | 48 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 57 | #718 of 2,063 | 19 | 5.8 | $5.6M | 150 | 13 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 56 | #513 of 1,327 | 8 | 2.4 | $3.9M | 126 | 9 |
| Gyms | 56 | #679 of 1,792 | 12 | 3.6 | $1.5M | 113 | 7 |
| Real estate | 56 | #755 of 2,229 | 44 | 13.4 | Index only | 233 | 36 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 56 | #890 of 2,405 | 114 | 34.6 | $927K | 140 | 48 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 55 | #903 of 2,210 | 39 | 11.8 | $1.4M | 157 | 14 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 55 | #939 of 2,405 | 215 | 65.3 | $491K | 133 | 123 |
| Gas stations | 55 | #950 of 2,358 | 48 | 14.6 | $2.1M | 90 | 43 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 54 | #998 of 2,394 | 131 | 39.8 | $244K | 160 | 46 |
| Pet businesses | 53 | #960 of 2,200 | 38 | 11.5 | $654K | 74 | 9 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 52 | #658 of 1,493 | 16 | 4.9 | $2.7M | 91 | 29 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 52 | #849 of 1,889 | 21 | 6.4 | $5M | 121 | 13 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 50 | #744 of 1,461 | 13 | 3.9 | $1.9M | 75 | 5 |
| Roofing and gutters | 49 | #610 of 1,177 | 9 | 2.7 | $9.2M | 108 | 6 |
| Pizza | 49 | #1,061 of 2,090 | 19 | 5.8 | $5.6M | 109 | 62 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 48 | #1,005 of 1,886 | 27 | 8.2 | $1.2M | 120 | 15 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 48 | #1,155 of 2,088 | 26 | 7.9 | $679K | 103 | 10 |
| Grocery stores | 47 | #1,113 of 2,070 | 22 | 6.7 | $8.3M | 89 | 12 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 46 | #1,294 of 2,222 | 33 | 10.0 | $3.2M | 105 | 62 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 45 | #1,395 of 2,402 | 70 | 21.3 | $2.6M | 77 | 19 |
| Nail salons | 44 | #854 of 1,328 | 12 | 3.6 | $2.1M | 127 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 43 | #1,378 of 2,261 | 39 | 11.8 | $4.7M | 59 | 7 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 42 | #1,175 of 1,771 | 31 | 9.4 | $1.4M | 82 | 47 |
| Auto repair shops | 42 | #1,554 of 2,378 | 75 | 22.8 | $413K | 93 | 35 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 41 | #918 of 1,334 | 12 | 3.6 | $1.5M | 73 | 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 40 | #1,651 of 2,401 | 118 | 35.8 | $263K | 98 | 57 |
| Car washes and detailing | 37 | #1,054 of 1,451 | 13 | 3.9 | $2.4M | 95 | 10 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 37 | #1,238 of 1,656 | 27 | 8.2 | $1.2M | 66 | 25 |
| House cleaning | 35 | #688 of 847 | 12 | 3.6 | $3.6M | 56 | 14 |
| Tire shops | 35 | #1,133 of 1,530 | 15 | 4.6 | $2.1M | 83 | 10 |
| Child care and preschools | 35 | #1,225 of 1,611 | 19 | 5.8 | $572K | 57 | 15 |
| Barbershops | 33 | #1,043 of 1,356 | 14 | 4.3 | $1.8M | 97 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | 25 | #851 of 974 | 9 | 2.7 | $2.8M | 61 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.2 | $20.6M | 172 | 18 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.2 | $13.5M | 108 | 4 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.9 | $10.6M | 445 | 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.9 | Index only | 380 | 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.9 | $10.3M | 75 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.9 | $10.6M | 340 | 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.9 | $14.2M | 139 | 4 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.6 | Index only | Too few | 10 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.6 | $8.8M | Too few | 7 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.3 | $53.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.3 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.3 | $31.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
Household spending in Caldwell County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $31M | $942 | 98 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $102.8M | $3,124 | 120 |
| Food away from home | $105.6M | $3,209 | 79 |
| Groceries | $181.5M | $5,514 | 87 |
| Personal care products and services | $25.5M | $775 | 77 |
| Child care and other personal services | $10.9M | $330 | 57 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $17.7M | $536 | 55 |
| Medical and dental services | $31.9M | $970 | 75 |
| Pets | $24.9M | $755 | 83 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $53.8M | $1,635 | 80 |
| Vehicle insurance | $88.5M | $2,687 | 137 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $82.4M | $2,502 | 83 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $42.6M | $1,295 | 92 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $444.4M | $13,500 | 81 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Caldwell County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 81,105+0.7% since 2020
- Households
- 32,919
- Median age
- 44.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 74%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 472 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 171
- Median household income
- $56,425+26.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $75,197
- Median home value
- $192,200
- Jobs located here
- 26,485
- Daytime population
- 70,763Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Caldwell County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Caldwell County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Carolina 8
- Burke County, NC87,795 people
- Alexander County, NC36,412 people
- Catawba County, NC163,573 people
- Watauga County, NC55,123 people
- Avery County, NC17,680 people
- Wilkes County, NC65,935 people
- McDowell County, NC44,817 people
- Lincoln County, NC92,716 people
Questions
How fast is Caldwell County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Caldwell County at 81,105 people in 2025, up 0.7% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 32,919 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 26.8%, before inflation.
How much do households in Caldwell County, NC spend?
Households in Caldwell County spend about $444.4M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $181.5M on groceries and $105.6M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Caldwell County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 137, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (55).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Caldwell County, NC?
Of the business types scored in Caldwell County, spas and skin care studios (67), veterinarians (66) and funeral homes (63) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For spas and skin care studios, that ranks #290 of 1,769 scored counties.
How does Caldwell County, NC compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Caldwell County is $56,425, 30% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 0.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $192,200, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for house cleaning businesses (64% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for spas and skin care studios (71% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 44 of the 56 business types have a score in Caldwell County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Caldwell County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Caldwell County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Caldwell County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.