Cost of Living in Caldwell County, North Carolina
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Caldwell County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Caldwell County ranks #640 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 20%)
Sourced county brief
Caldwell County Median Gross Rent Estimated at $744
Median gross rent in Caldwell County was estimated at $744 per month, a figure that is $233 below the North Carolina unweighted county mean of $977. The official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) is 25.6%, representing an official B25071 metric rather than a derived estimate. This percentage is 3.3 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean of 28.9%. For owner-occupied housing, the median home value was $192,200, which is lower than the state unweighted county mean of $235,312. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owners were $692, compared to the state unweighted mean of $927. Renter households in the county earned a median income of $35,595. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Caldwell County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 25.6% of renter household income in Caldwell County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $744 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $692. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $29,760 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The North Carolina unweighted mean of county median rents is $977 per month. Caldwell County's $744 median is 23.8% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Caldwell County
Rent Burden
15.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,317
per month
Owner Cost Burden
14.7%
of gross income
The median home in Caldwell County may be a stretch
Median home value is $192,200. Estimated monthly cost: $1,534 vs. your max of $1,317.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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