County profile · North Carolina
Cleveland County, NC market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Cleveland County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 103,325
- +3.4% since 2020
- Households
- 38,850
- Median household income
- $58,534
- +38.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $200,000
- Jobs located here
- 34,727
- Highest market score
- 85
- Insurance agencies, #132 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Cleveland County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Cleveland 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 103,325 people live in Cleveland County, in 38,850 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Cleveland County grew 3.4%, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Cleveland County is $58,534 a year, 27% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 38.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Cleveland County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 141, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (57).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Cleveland County are for insurance agencies (85), veterinarians (71) and car washes and detailers (69). Cleveland County ranks #132 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
Cleveland County is part of the Shelby-Kings Mountain area. For its number of households, Cleveland County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for convenience stores (86% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (59% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Cleveland County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Cleveland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 85 | #132 of 2,272 | 40 | 10.3 | $2.7M | 214 | 21 |
| Veterinarians | 71 | #260 of 1,485 | 10 | 2.6 | $3M | 109 | 5 |
| Car washes and detailing | 69 | #262 of 1,451 | 14 | 3.6 | $2.7M | 107 | 4 |
| House cleaning | 68 | #126 of 847 | 7 | 1.8 | $7.3M | 114 | 12 |
| Roofing and gutters | 65 | #251 of 1,177 | 10 | 2.6 | $9.8M | 116 | 4 |
| Pet businesses | 65 | #476 of 2,200 | 35 | 9.0 | $850K | 97 | 15 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 64 | #180 of 887 | 5 | 1.3 | Index only | 272 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | 64 | #244 of 974 | 5 | 1.3 | $6M | 132 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | 64 | #343 of 1,422 | 13 | 3.3 | $3M | 123 | 7 |
| Gyms | 64 | #390 of 1,792 | 14 | 3.6 | $1.6M | 120 | 8 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 64 | #471 of 2,063 | 28 | 7.2 | $4.5M | 123 | 10 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 63 | #426 of 2,176 | 49 | 12.6 | Index only | 199 | 22 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 62 | #480 of 1,889 | 27 | 6.9 | $4.7M | 114 | 10 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 59 | #438 of 1,302 | 11 | 2.8 | $3.5M | 111 | 5 |
| Chiropractors | 58 | #517 of 1,490 | 15 | 3.9 | $2.6M | 107 | 7 |
| Gas stations | 58 | #835 of 2,358 | 54 | 13.9 | $2.3M | 97 | 65 |
| Spas and skin care | 57 | #625 of 1,769 | 29 | 7.5 | $1.1M | 120 | 4 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 57 | #692 of 1,886 | 31 | 8.0 | $1.2M | 126 | 17 |
| Real estate | 56 | #765 of 2,229 | 63 | 16.2 | Index only | 194 | 50 |
| Funeral homes | 55 | #581 of 1,472 | 11 | 2.8 | $537K | 79 | 8 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 54 | #569 of 1,327 | 12 | 3.1 | $3.2M | 102 | 11 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 53 | #633 of 1,493 | 20 | 5.1 | $2.5M | 87 | 41 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 52 | #1,091 of 2,405 | 309 | 79.5 | $412K | 111 | 152 |
| Property management | 51 | #414 of 910 | 7 | 1.8 | Index only | 136 | 20 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 51 | #991 of 2,088 | 31 | 8.0 | $707K | 107 | 17 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 50 | #870 of 1,771 | 36 | 9.3 | $1.4M | 84 | 57 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 49 | #760 of 1,461 | 14 | 3.6 | $2.1M | 84 | 10 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 49 | #1,230 of 2,405 | 178 | 45.8 | $715K | 108 | 62 |
| Laundromats | 47 | #411 of 785 | 5 | 1.3 | $12.9M | 103 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | 46 | #688 of 1,160 | 12 | 3.1 | $8.2M | 68 | 19 |
| Tire shops | 46 | #895 of 1,530 | 26 | 6.7 | $1.5M | 58 | 6 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 46 | #1,194 of 2,087 | 50 | 12.9 | $1.3M | 102 | 23 |
| Pizza | 44 | #1,263 of 2,090 | 31 | 8.0 | $4.1M | 81 | 77 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 44 | #1,344 of 2,210 | 70 | 18.0 | $922K | 105 | 26 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 43 | #1,596 of 2,385 | 170 | 43.8 | $180K | 85 | 17 |
| Auto repair and car care | 42 | #1,566 of 2,401 | 165 | 42.5 | $229K | 85 | 64 |
| Pest control | 41 | #475 of 699 | 9 | 2.3 | $5.7M | 55 | 4 |
| Home repair trades | 41 | #1,444 of 2,057 | 52 | 13.4 | $1.9M | 78 | 63 |
| Hair salons | 41 | #1,618 of 2,339 | 98 | 25.2 | $312K | 73 | 12 |
| Grocery stores | 40 | #1,360 of 2,070 | 32 | 8.2 | $6.7M | 73 | 18 |
| Auto repair shops | 40 | #1,670 of 2,378 | 103 | 26.5 | $367K | 83 | 49 |
| Barbershops | 39 | #943 of 1,356 | 18 | 4.6 | $1.7M | 90 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 39 | #1,536 of 2,222 | 53 | 13.6 | $2.4M | 79 | 77 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 37 | #1,004 of 1,334 | 15 | 3.9 | $1.5M | 72 | 9 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 34 | #1,401 of 1,707 | 30 | 7.7 | $3.3M | 69 | 40 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 34 | #1,821 of 2,402 | 103 | 26.5 | $2.1M | 62 | 37 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 33 | #2,002 of 2,394 | 336 | 86.5 | $114K | 75 | 91 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 32 | #394 of 479 | 5 | 1.3 | $7.6M | 55 | 5 |
| Nail salons | 32 | #1,106 of 1,328 | 23 | 5.9 | $1.3M | 80 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 31 | #1,320 of 1,611 | 28 | 7.2 | $487K | 49 | 25 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 31 | #1,369 of 1,656 | 38 | 9.8 | $1M | 57 | 55 |
| Convenience stores | 31 | #1,781 of 2,261 | 58 | 14.9 | $3.7M | 47 | 19 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.0 | $16.1M | 103 | 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.5 | $19.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.5 | $11M | Too few | 8 |
Household spending in Cleveland 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 | $37.8M | $974 | 102 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $124.9M | $3,214 | 124 |
| Food away from home | $127.3M | $3,278 | 81 |
| Groceries | $215.9M | $5,558 | 88 |
| Personal care products and services | $30.6M | $788 | 78 |
| Child care and other personal services | $13.6M | $351 | 60 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $21.9M | $564 | 57 |
| Medical and dental services | $38.4M | $989 | 77 |
| Pets | $29.8M | $766 | 84 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $64.5M | $1,661 | 81 |
| Vehicle insurance | $107.3M | $2,762 | 141 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $98.1M | $2,526 | 84 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $51M | $1,312 | 93 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $530.5M | $13,654 | 82 |
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 Cleveland County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 103,325+3.4% since 2020
- Households
- 38,850
- Median age
- 41.3
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 71%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 464 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 218
- Median household income
- $58,534+38.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $76,018
- Median home value
- $200,000
- Jobs located here
- 34,727
- Daytime population
- 92,263Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Cleveland 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 Cleveland 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
- Gaston County, NC234,881 people
- Rutherford County, NC64,930 people
- Lincoln County, NC92,716 people
- Burke County, NC87,795 people
- Catawba County, NC163,573 people
- Polk County, NC19,891 people
- McDowell County, NC44,817 people
- Mecklenburg County, NC1,154,681 people
Questions
How fast is Cleveland County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Cleveland County at 103,325 people in 2025, up 3.4% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 38,850 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 38.6%, before inflation.
How much do households in Cleveland County, NC spend?
Households in Cleveland County spend about $530.5M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $215.9M on groceries and $127.3M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Cleveland County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 141, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (57).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Cleveland County, NC?
Of the business types scored in Cleveland County, insurance agencies (85), veterinarians (71) and car washes and detailers (69) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #132 of 2,272 scored counties.
How does Cleveland County, NC compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Cleveland County is $58,534, 27% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $200,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for convenience stores (86% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (59% 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. 52 of the 56 business types have a score in Cleveland 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 Cleveland 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.
All markets in North Carolina · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Cleveland 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 Cleveland 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.