County profile · North Carolina
Catawba County, NC market data
How Catawba County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 170,172
- +5.8% since 2020
- Households
- 66,227
- Median household income
- $67,864
- +30.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $241,600
- Jobs located here
- 91,506
- Highest market score
- 69
- Physical therapy, #248 of 1,422 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Catawba County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Catawba 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
Catawba County has an estimated 170,172 people and 66,227 households. Population estimates put the population change in Catawba County from 2020 to 2025 at +5.8%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Catawba County is $67,864, 16% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 30.4%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Catawba County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 140, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (67).
Of the business types scored in Catawba County, physical therapy clinics (69), pet grooming and boarding businesses (68) and convenience stores (68) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For physical therapy clinics, that ranks #248 of 1,422 scored counties.
Catawba County is part of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pest control companies (93% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for property management companies (43% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Catawba County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Catawba 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical therapy | 69 | #248 of 1,422 | 24 | 3.6 | $2.9M | 122 | 12 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 68 | #277 of 1,461 | 22 | 3.3 | $2.5M | 99 | 13 |
| Convenience stores | 68 | #502 of 2,261 | 62 | 9.4 | $6.2M | 79 | 11 |
| Child care and preschools | 66 | #375 of 1,611 | 30 | 4.5 | $894K | 89 | 22 |
| Gas stations | 66 | #535 of 2,358 | 98 | 14.8 | $2.2M | 91 | 81 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 65 | #145 of 777 | 7 | 1.1 | $6.2M | 153 | 17 |
| House cleaning | 64 | #173 of 847 | 15 | 2.3 | $6.2M | 97 | 30 |
| Insurance agencies | 64 | #666 of 2,272 | 105 | 15.9 | $1.7M | 138 | 76 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 63 | #131 of 479 | 6 | 0.9 | $10.9M | 79 | 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 63 | #676 of 2,402 | 125 | 18.9 | $3.1M | 91 | 42 |
| Property management | 62 | #250 of 910 | 11 | 1.7 | Index only | 157 | 32 |
| Pet businesses | 60 | #658 of 2,200 | 67 | 10.1 | $829K | 94 | 44 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 57 | #536 of 1,493 | 40 | 6.0 | $2.3M | 80 | 68 |
| Grocery stores | 57 | #779 of 2,070 | 43 | 6.5 | $9M | 97 | 31 |
| Pet stores | 56 | #378 of 974 | 11 | 1.7 | $5.1M | 112 | 8 |
| Veterinarians | 51 | #721 of 1,485 | 27 | 4.1 | $2.1M | 76 | 23 |
| Electricians | 50 | #578 of 1,160 | 19 | 2.9 | $9.6M | 80 | 54 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 50 | #874 of 1,771 | 73 | 11.0 | $1.3M | 76 | 107 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 49 | #715 of 1,302 | 28 | 4.2 | $2.5M | 80 | 10 |
| Barbershops | 49 | #733 of 1,356 | 35 | 5.3 | $1.6M | 85 | 4 |
| Funeral homes | 49 | #735 of 1,472 | 23 | 3.5 | $411K | 60 | 13 |
| Car washes and detailing | 49 | #762 of 1,451 | 41 | 6.2 | $1.6M | 63 | 9 |
| Pizza | 49 | #1,073 of 2,090 | 57 | 8.6 | $4.1M | 81 | 141 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 48 | #484 of 887 | 30 | 4.5 | Index only | 82 | 9 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 48 | #747 of 1,334 | 35 | 5.3 | $1.2M | 62 | 7 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 48 | #944 of 1,707 | 56 | 8.5 | $3.2M | 68 | 56 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 47 | #723 of 1,327 | 24 | 3.6 | $2.7M | 88 | 25 |
| Chiropractors | 46 | #864 of 1,490 | 34 | 5.1 | $2.1M | 86 | 22 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 46 | #1,173 of 2,063 | 65 | 9.8 | $3.6M | 98 | 51 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 46 | #1,284 of 2,176 | 150 | 22.6 | Index only | 118 | 74 |
| Hair salons | 46 | #1,401 of 2,339 | 171 | 25.8 | $329K | 77 | 25 |
| Real estate | 44 | #1,413 of 2,229 | 193 | 29.1 | Index only | 115 | 132 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 44 | #1,470 of 2,405 | 372 | 56.2 | $633K | 95 | 132 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 43 | #1,074 of 1,656 | 60 | 9.1 | $1.2M | 66 | 75 |
| Gyms | 43 | #1,177 of 1,792 | 52 | 7.9 | $838K | 64 | 17 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 43 | #1,184 of 1,889 | 60 | 9.1 | $3.9M | 95 | 56 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 43 | #1,410 of 2,222 | 103 | 15.6 | $2.3M | 75 | 141 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 43 | #1,411 of 2,088 | 94 | 14.2 | $464K | 70 | 24 |
| Pest control | 42 | #466 of 699 | 18 | 2.7 | $5.2M | 51 | 9 |
| Dry cleaners | 41 | #348 of 507 | 9 | 1.4 | $13.1M | 84 | 8 |
| Home repair trades | 41 | #1,463 of 2,057 | 110 | 16.6 | $1.7M | 68 | 134 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 41 | #1,580 of 2,405 | 696 | 105.1 | $338K | 91 | 328 |
| Spas and skin care | 40 | #1,256 of 1,769 | 76 | 11.5 | $741K | 85 | 15 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 39 | #1,451 of 2,087 | 129 | 19.5 | $916K | 72 | 56 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 39 | #1,724 of 2,394 | 502 | 75.8 | $140K | 92 | 192 |
| Auto repair shops | 38 | #1,754 of 2,378 | 192 | 29.0 | $341K | 77 | 90 |
| Laundromats | 37 | #543 of 785 | 14 | 2.1 | $8.4M | 67 | 7 |
| Roofing and gutters | 36 | #895 of 1,177 | 35 | 5.3 | $5.2M | 61 | 24 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 36 | #1,925 of 2,385 | 342 | 51.6 | $165K | 77 | 62 |
| Tire shops | 35 | #1,154 of 1,530 | 47 | 7.1 | $1.4M | 56 | 21 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 35 | #1,712 of 2,210 | 188 | 28.4 | $629K | 71 | 71 |
| Auto repair and car care | 34 | #1,902 of 2,401 | 353 | 53.3 | $185K | 69 | 126 |
| Nail salons | 32 | #1,115 of 1,328 | 55 | 8.3 | $1M | 61 | 18 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 30 | #1,643 of 1,886 | 90 | 13.6 | $781K | 79 | 68 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.6 | $17.6M | 72 | 5 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.3 | Index only | Too few | 3 |
Household spending in Catawba 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 | $65.4M | $988 | 103 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $212M | $3,201 | 123 |
| Food away from home | $235.4M | $3,554 | 87 |
| Groceries | $386.1M | $5,830 | 92 |
| Personal care products and services | $56.3M | $850 | 85 |
| Child care and other personal services | $26.8M | $405 | 70 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $43.6M | $658 | 67 |
| Medical and dental services | $70.3M | $1,061 | 82 |
| Pets | $55.6M | $839 | 92 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $118.2M | $1,784 | 87 |
| Vehicle insurance | $181.9M | $2,746 | 140 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $181.7M | $2,744 | 91 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $93.2M | $1,408 | 100 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $961.4M | $14,517 | 87 |
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 Catawba County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 170,172+5.8% since 2020
- Households
- 66,227
- Median age
- 41.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 72%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 401 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 408
- Median household income
- $67,864+30.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $90,959
- Median home value
- $241,600
- Jobs located here
- 91,506
- Daytime population
- 180,194Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Catawba 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 Catawba 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
- Alexander County, NC36,412 people
- Lincoln County, NC92,716 people
- Caldwell County, NC80,536 people
- Iredell County, NC196,544 people
- Burke County, NC87,795 people
- Gaston County, NC234,881 people
- Cleveland County, NC100,991 people
- Wilkes County, NC65,935 people
Questions
How fast is Catawba County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Catawba County at 170,172 people in 2025, up 5.8% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 66,227 households. Median household income rose 30.4% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Catawba County, NC spend?
Households in Catawba County spend about $961.4M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $386.1M on groceries and $235.4M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Catawba County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 140, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (67).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Catawba County, NC?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Catawba County are for physical therapy clinics (69), pet grooming and boarding businesses (68) and convenience stores (68). Catawba County ranks #248 of 1,422 scored counties for physical therapy clinics.
How does Catawba County, NC compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Catawba County is $67,864 a year, 16% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 5.8% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $241,600, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Catawba County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pest control companies (93% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for property management companies (43% 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. 54 of the 56 business types have a score in Catawba 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 Catawba 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 Catawba 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 Catawba 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.