Are you seeking adventure in the mountains? Do you want access to great jobs and outdoor fun at the same time? For a robust lifestyle, try Catawba County, North Carolina. The quality of life is high in the Appalachian foothills northwest of Charlotte. The locals enjoy arts, sports, outdoor recreation, retailers, and restaurants.

Catawba County towns still have that quaint feeling of yesteryear but offer modern conveniences of a big-city lifestyle. Choose between living along the shores of Lake Norman, the farms of the rolling Piedmont hills, or the foothill towns. There’s a lot of diversity in real estate, and it all comes with an impressive housing cost. Go ahead and dive into our guide to learn more about living in Catawba County.

About Catawba County

Catawba County is part of North Carolina’s Piedmont Region at the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills. Dammed sections of the Catawba River winds along the northern and eastern border on the waters’ way to South Carolina, where it becomes a wild and scenic river.

Three lakes provide miles of shoreline and water recreation: Lake Hickory, Lookout Shoals Lake, and Lake Norman. The latter is a massive reservoir with 520 miles of shoreline and a popular recreation destination. It’s the largest manmade lake in North Carolina.

Some roll Catawba County into the wider Charlotte metro, with the central point about an hour from Uptown Charlotte. Jump on Interstate 40, and you’ll be in Charlotte and its urban amenities in about an hour. The Charlotte Douglas International Airport can be reached within 45 minutes. Its neighbors are Iredell, Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, and Lincoln Counties.

Catawba County Weather

The mountains shelter the land, creating moderate winter temperatures and refreshing summer breezes. The average year-round temperature is 69F. In January, the lows average 31F and the highs 53F. July is the hottest month, with a 90F average high and 69F low. The rainiest months are from May to July.

Cost of Living

Catawba County residents have lots of amenities for the low cost of living. According to the Best Places Cost of Living Index, Catawba County averages 89. The national average is set at 100, showing that it’s more affordable to live here. Healthcare is the one spending category above the national average, while housing costs were the furthest under. A single adult with no dependents would need a median income of $35,001 to cover all the essentials for daily living in Catawba.

Catawba County History

Founded in 1842 from Lincoln County, Catawba County is named for the people who inhabited the land. Early European settlers came from Germany, Switzerland, Scotland, and Ireland.

Newton, the county seat, was named after Isaac Newton Wilson, a member of the North Carolina General Assembly who proposed the county’s creation. The legislature took several years to approve the county’s establishment.

Even before it became a county, Catawba, particularly the town of Hickory, was an important furniture manufacturing center. The region has also been important for producing textiles. Manufacturing remains an integral part of Catawba County. Today, it is also a major producer of telecommunications equipment and cables.

Catawba County was briefly part of the North Carolina Gold Rush at the turn of the century. It was one of the largest gold-producing areas in the entire country.

Catawba County Towns and Cities

For those new to the area, Catawba County houses for sale range from classic small towns with historic bungalows to rural homesteads.

City of Hickory

In the northeast area, Hickory acts as a regional hub for commerce and recreation in the greater Catawba Valley region. The town has a thriving downtown with many local shops, a craft beer scene, and arts and cultural centers. Across North Carolina, it has a reputation for furniture production. National Geographic honored Hickory as one of America’s 2018 Best Small Cities.

City of Newton

Newton’s downtown business district has experienced a significant revitalization. The updated downtown has an outdoor amphitheater, bike lanes, and park space. Centrally located in Catawba, the historic town throws folksy festivals and holiday events for the community.

Conover

Founded in 1876 at a railroad intersection, Conover has a rich industrial heritage. It’s a town neighboring Newton in central Catawba County. That gives it excellent access to major roads like I-40, plus commerce, manufacturing, and lifestyle amenities. The parks and entertainment stand out. Downtown Conover Station project has adapted a historic building into a community center beside a six-acre environmental education park. The Lyle Creek Greenway has been added to the Carolina Thread Trail system.

Claremont

This city on the county’s eastern side is known as a progressive small town. Many family events are held throughout the year in the city park and on Main Street. At the annual Easter egg hunt, over 6,000 eggs are hidden around the park. In October, at Claremont Daze, vendors set up along Main Street, and two large stages host live performances. Claremont is also a logistical hub for many of the area’s local manufacturers.

Other small towns in Catawba County include Brookford, Maiden, Longview, and Catawba. Their long history adds to the towns’ charm and character.

Catawba County Job Market

The Catawba County area has ranked as one of the best areas in the United States for low business costs. It’s one of the reasons it’s attracted over 30 internationally owned firms, many of which are involved with manufacturing. These include Smart Electric, CertainTeed, Poppelmann Plastics, and Klingspor Abrasives.

Manufacturing is vital to Catawba County’s economy. Around 28% of all local workers are employed in the manufacturing industry. In total, the area has over 425 manufacturers, and they employ over 25,000 people.

Many manufacturers produced textiles in the past. Today, the advanced facilities provide high-value products such as handcrafted furniture, automotive components, plastics, and fiber optics. Top employers include CommScope and Corning Optical Communications, which are some of the world’s largest suppliers of fiber-optic cables.

Catawba County is also a significant data center in the North Carolina Data Center corridor. Investing companies include Google, Facebook, Apple, and Bed Bath & Beyond.

Beyond manufacturing and data centers, Catawba County does have diverse options for employment. Just look at more of the top employers based on the number of employees: Catawba County Schools, Catawba Valley Medical Center, Target Stores Distribution Center, Catawba County, Frye Regional Medical, Wal-mart, Pierre Foods, and Catawba Valley Community College.

As of July 2024, Catawba County’s unemployment rate was 4.2%, aligned with the national average.

Catawba County Real Estate Market

If you’re looking for Catawba County homes for sale, you’re in luck. Market properties range from historic homes to new construction to condominiums. Live lakeside or in a charming small town.

Based on market insights for the Catawba Valley in August 2024, median home prices have generally stabilized but are still inching upward over the year. More dramatic growth occurred in 2021, but even that was not as steep as in major cities like the Charlotte metro. That persistent but stable demand is a good sign for home sellers and buyers.

The median home price for a Catawba County home was $310,000 for the year-to-date, a 3.4% positive change. The median sale price for the month was $319,999, which was 3.6% less than August 2023. But, with a 3.1-month supply of inventory, and 35 days on market until sale, Catawba County homes are still desirable.

Overall, new listings were up 22% for the year-to-date and closed sales were up 0.9%. The market also had more homes for sale than this time last year, at 564 compared to 359.

Local market homes

Looking closer at the real estate market in the Catawba County cities:

• Hickory had 20% more new listings for the year-to-date by August 2024. The median sales price stood at $285,000, up 3.6% YOY. The month’s supply of inventory was 2.8, up 56%. Median sales prices have been rising less dramatically since January 2024. The pandemic area saw double-digit pricing growth in the local housing market.
• Newton reported a median sales price of $242,500, a 6.7% decline. The days on market until sale stood at 27, 28% longer than the same time in 2023. Active listings and new listings were up. The month’s supply of inventory was 2.3, about 53% more than August 2023. Newton homes gained in appreciation during 2021, but prices have stabilized starting mid-2023. The last few months have reported year-over-year declines in median home prices.

Catawba County Real Estate Taxes

Catawba County residents paid a 0.5750 property tax rate in 2021. The last re-evaluation year was in 2023.

According to the Census, around 70% of all Catawba County housing was owner-occupied.

Catawba County Population

Catawba County reported 160,610 residents in the April 2020 US Census, a 3.9% growth rate over ten years. The average resident was 41 years old in 2019. Most Catawba County residents were under 18 years of age, followed by the over-65 demographic. Around 69% of the population lived in an urban area.

Demographically, around 75% of residents identified as white alone. Approximately 10% identified as Hispanic or Latino and 9% identified as African-American alone. Catawba County had 4.5% residents identify as Asian alone.

Around 23% of residents had a bachelor’s degree or higher. Another 34% had some college or an associate’s degree, making the area highly educated. The median household income for Catawba County residents was $52,436 in 2019.

Catawba County Education

For K-12 education, three public school systems serve local youth. Which public school system your children attend depends on where you live. In total, Catawba County has 44 public schools.

Catawba County Schools

The largest of the three public school districts, Catawba County manages 28 schools and enrolls over 15,600 students. It operates 16 elementary schools, six middle schools, six high schools, and two alternative schools. Its programming includes Head Start and Pre-K. CCS has a 1:1 student-to-technology ratio, STEM coursework, and AP coursework.

Hickory City Schools

The second-largest school district enrolls just over 4,000 students in nine schools. It operates five elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, and one career and arts magnet school. The high school had an 88% four-year graduation rate in 2023.

Newton-Conover City Schools

It may be the smallest school district, operating just seven schools for around 3,000 students, but Newton-Conover has received many accolades. This school district had the highest graduation rate in North Carolina’s history at 97.1% in 2015. The district’s Discovery High School, located in Newton, was awarded a silver medal by the US News & World Report in May 2018, indicating that it ranks in the top 10% of high schools across the entire United States. For 2024, it ranked 8th for academic performance in North Carolina. The entire school district has three elementary schools, one middle school, one alternative school, and two high schools.

Private education

Families also have over 12 private schools to select from. Some top-ranked schools include Hickory Christian Academy, Tabernacle Christian School, and University Christian High School. The majority of the private schools are religiously affiliated.

Catawba Valley Community College

Catawba Valley Community College is the local community and technical training college. It offers certificates and two-year associate’s degrees and enrolls around 6,000 students. Programs include continuing education, manufacturing, and industrial. Special courses are available in computer engineering, electrical systems, industrial systems, and mechatronics engineering.

Lenoir-Rhyne University

A four-year liberal arts school in Hickory, Lenoir-Rhyne enrolls over 2,000 students a year. Popular degrees are in business administration, computer science, information technology, management, and marketing.

Appalachian State University at Hickory

Part of the North Carolina University system, Appalachian State is a four-year public university with a satellite location serving Catawba and surrounding counties. Key majors include communication, management, and a master of business administration.

North Carolina Center for Engineering Technologies

Known as NCCET, this school in Hickory offers vocational and technical training in various disciplines through Appalachian State. Students can take courses and certifications in engineering technology, industrial distribution and logistics, engineering, technology, and a master of Science and Engineering Management.

Catawba County Health Care

The Catawba Valley Medical Center is a not-for-profit 258-bed hospital with multiple major specialties. It acts as a regional referral center and has the busiest emergency department in the region.

The operator runs eight primary care practices across the area. It also provides a range of acute and specialty care services. Various credentialing institutions have recognized Catawba Valley Medical Center for women’s care, patient experience, orthopedics, cancer care, and stroke care.

Frye Regional Medical Center is a 355-bed acute care facility that operates as Duke LifePoint Healthcare in downtown Hickory. It has a full-service cardiology department and on-site heart surgery facility. The main campus also has a birthing center and pediatric unit, a full-service cancer center, a bariatric surgery program, neurosciences, and rehabilitation facilities.

Catawba County Things to Do

Catawba County is a beautiful place to enjoy the outdoors. Thanks to the miles of Catawba River, residents enjoy prime access to boating, fishing, and other water recreation. The dams create three reservoirs: Lake Norman, Lake Hickory, and Lookout Shoals Lake. Pick your activity and enjoy! All the lakes have public access ramps and some shorefront parks with facilities.

On land, find even more park facilities, such as Baker’s Mountain Park and Riverbend Park. The Zahra Baker All Children’s Playground is popular for families because it is accessible to children of all abilities and has multiple playsets.

The arts thrive in Catawba County. Take in live shows at The Green Room Community Theater or the Hickory Community Theater, one of North Carolina’s oldest performing groups. Hickory Arts is the local venue that promotes local artists and helps develop the arts scene. The Western Piedmont Symphony is headquartered in Catawba County.

Residents have ample opportunities for outdoor sports and recreation. Rock Barn Golf & Spa is one of four golf courses available. It hosted the Great Hickory Classic, a PGA Tour Champions Tour event.

Local festivals include the Old Soldiers Reunions Celebration, Big Sunday at Balls Creek Campground, the Strawberry Festival and Craft Show, and Oktoberfest. The Old Soldiers Reunions Celebration started after the Civil War to honor Catawba County’s military personnel. This festival held the third week of August is the oldest continuing patriotic celebration in the United States.

Catawba County Local Attractions

Hickory Crawdads

The Class A Minor League Baseball Team was the 2015 South Atlantic League champions and the 2023 second-half title holder. The club is affiliated with the Texas Rangers as a High-A team.

Hickory Motor Speedway

Known as the birthplace of NASCAR Stars, the Hickory Motors Speedway is one of the nation’s most famous short tracks. Operating since 1951, it has been reconfigured three times. It has played a prominent role in NASCAR throughout the years and is still used as a venue for NASCAR’s Club racing division. The venue has a full racing schedule from March to October.

Catawba Science Center

Stop by with the whole family to explore a science-technology children’s museum with hands-on exhibits. Inside the 35,000-square-foot facilities are salt and freshwater aquarium galleries, a digital planetarium theater, science labs, and a naturalist center.

Hickory Museum of Art

The museum promotes the Arts in a four-county region, including Catawba, Caldwell, Berg, and Alexander counties. The vision is to create a community of visual arts. Exhibits highlight American and Southern Folk Art. Rotating exhibitions bring new experiences for the arts community.

Catawba County Dining

An expansive dining scene with homegrown restaurants. local breweries and your favorite chains add to the modern appeal of living in Catawba County. The over 100 restaurants include favorites like Bojangles’, Cook-Out, and Burger King. In the towns, find some globally-inspired cuisine with restaurants serving Jamaican and Vietnamese fare. The local high-end restaurants serve farm-to-table, some with stellar waterfront views to complete the atmosphere.

Catawba County Shopping

The Valley Hills Mall has over 90 specialty stores and carts, including major department store chains. The mall also includes a 28-foot antique carousel in the food court and a Speedway soft play area for the kids.

Hickory Furniture Mart is a popular destination for those seeking high-quality furniture deals. The Mart has a selection of domestic and imported furnishings. You will find 100 factory outlets and galleries inside of the four-level facility. The building also includes a restaurant, coffee shop, lounge, tea room, and shipping service.

Other shopping malls around Catawba County are home to more nationally known chains, such as Hobby Lobby, Bed Bath & Beyond, Ross, TJ Maxx, Target, and Walmart.

If you enjoy finding locally sourced goods, try one of the farmer’s markets around Catawba County. Downtown Hickory, Newton, and Conover are destinations for local boutique retailers.

Searching Catawba County, NC, Real Estate

You will find a robust lifestyle in the Appalachian foothills with many modern conveniences. Catawba County residents get a great mix of urban living with small-town charm. Nearby are places to hike, bike, and fish. Families have access to outstanding school systems and employment opportunities. It’s an incredibly well-rounded lifestyle, all with an affordable cost of living. Explore the housing market with a local real estate agent.