Lenoir, NC Profile: Facts & Data

Lenoir, North Carolina - Basic Facts

The City of Lenoir had a population of 18,472 as of July 1, 2025.

The primary coordinate point for Lenoir is located at latitude 35.914 and longitude -81.539 in Caldwell County. The formal boundaries for the City of Lenoir encompass a land area of 19.64 sq. miles and a water area of 0 sq. miles. Caldwell County is in the Eastern time zone (GMT -5).

The City of Lenoir has a C1 Census Class Code which indicates an active incorporated place that does not serve as a county subdivision equivalent. It also has a Functional Status Code of "A" which identifies an active government providing primary general-purpose functions.

The City of Lenoir is located within Township of Lower Creek, a minor civil division (MCD) of Caldwell County.

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Lenoir, NC Data & Demographics (As of July 1, 2025)

POPULATION
Total Population	18,472 (100%)
Population in Households	17,911 (97.0%)
Population in Families	14,104 (76.4%)
Population in Group Quarters¹	561 ( 3.0%)
Population Density	887
Diversity Index²	57


INCOME
Median Household Income	$51,857
Average Household Income	$69,693
% of Income for Mortgage⁴	24%
Per Capita Income	$29,286
Wealth Index⁵	54
Socioeconomic Status Index⁶	Moderate (46.6)

HOUSING
Total HU (Housing Units)	8,562 (100%)
Owner Occupied HU	4,759 (55.6%)
Renter Occupied HU	2,990 (34.9%)
Vacant Housing Units	813 ( 9.5%)
Median Home Value	$202,213
Average Home Value	$227,613
Housing Affordability Index³	96

HOUSEHOLDS
Total Households	7,749
Average Household Size	2.31
Family Households	4,554
Average Family Size	3.00

HOUSING

Total HU (Housing Units)

8,562 (100%)

Owner Occupied HU

4,759 (55.6%)

Renter Occupied HU

2,990 (34.9%)

Vacant Housing Units

813 ( 9.5%)

Median Home Value

$202,213

Average Home Value

$227,613

Housing Affordability Index³

HOUSEHOLDS

Total Households

7,749

Average Household Size

2.31

Family Households

4,554

Average Family Size

3.00

NOTES

Group Quarters - a place where people live or stay in a group living arrangement. Includes college residents halls, nursing facilities, military barracks, and correctional facilities.
The Diversity Index is a scale of 0 to 100 that represents the likelihood that two persons, chosen at random from the same area, belong to different races or ethnic groups. If an area's entire population belongs to one race AND one ethnic group, then the area has zero diversity. An area's diversity index increases to 100 when the population is evenly divided into two or more race/ethnic groups.
The Housing Affordability Index base is 100 and represents a balance point where a resident with a median household income can normally qualify to purchase a median price home. Values above 100 indicate increased affordability, while values below 100 indicate decreased affordability.
The % of Income for Mortgage quantifies the percentage of median household income dedicated to mortgage payments on a home priced at the median value (assuming a 30-year mortgage and a 20% down payment).
The Wealth Index is based on a number of indicators of affluence including average household income and average net worth, but it also includes the value of material possessions and resources. It represents the wealth of the area relative to the national level. Values above or below 100 represent above-average wealth or below-average wealth compared to the national level.
The Socioeconomic Index ranges from zero (lowest relative status) to 100 (highest relative status). This measure quantifies disparities in social position of an area's inhabitants and is built from a broad range of demographic, housing, and socioeconomic inputs. More information on this measure can be found in Esri's SEI tutorial.

GROWTH RATE / YEAR	2020-2025	2025-2030
Population	0.12%	-0.04%
Households	0.37%	0.25%
Families		0.06%
Median Household Income		1.27%
Per Capita Income		2.12%
Owner Occupied HU		0.75%

GROWTH RATE / YEAR

2020-2025

2025-2030

Population

0.12%

-0.04%

Households

0.37%

0.25%

Families

0.06%

Median Household Income

1.27%

Per Capita Income

2.12%

Owner Occupied HU

0.75%

Lenoir, NC - Peer Comparisons by Rank and Percentile

The table below compares Lenoir to the other 776 incorporated cities, towns and CDPs in North Carolina by rank and percentile using July 1, 2025 data. The location Ranked # 1 has the highest value. A location that ranks higher than 75% of its peers would be in the 75th percentile of the peer group.

Variable Description	Rank	Percentile
Total Population	# 58	93rd
Population Density	# 269	65th
Median Household Income	# 538	31st
Housing Affordability Index	# 442	57th
Per Capita Income	# 513	34th
Diversity Index	# 356	54th

Variable Description

Rank

Percentile

Total Population

# 58

93rd

Population Density

# 269

65th

Median Household Income

# 538

31st

Housing Affordability Index

# 442

57th

Per Capita Income

# 513

34th

Diversity Index

# 356

54th

North Carolina Census Data Comparison Tool

Lenoir, NC Profile: Facts & Data

Lenoir, North Carolina - Basic Facts

Lenoir, NC Data & Demographics (As of July 1, 2025)

POPULATION

INCOME

HOUSING

HOUSEHOLDS

GROWTH RATE / YEAR

Lenoir, NC - Peer Comparisons by Rank and Percentile

Lenoir, NC - Most Popular Things to Do

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Caldwell County