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Living in
Lenoir.
About
Life in Lenoir
Living in Lenoir means settling into a small city of about 18,000 people in North Carolina's foothills where you're actually close enough to mountains to feel them, but not so remote that you're isolated. The cost of living is genuinely affordable—median home values around $179,000 and median rent under $700 make housing stretch further than in most places, and the job market, while smaller than bigger metros, has stabilized around healthcare, education, and Google's data center presence after the furniture industry that once dominated here contracted decades ago. You'll find yourself in a place with real community institutions—a solid public recreation system with everything from the Aquatic and Fitness Center to Hibriten Mountain's hiking trail just east of town, plus a 5.3-mile greenway system that feels designed for people who actually live here rather than just pass through.
Lenoir at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
45.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.6%
Foreign-Born
7.1%
Broadband Internet
82.0%
of households
Population Growth
+0.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.1% foreign-born, most often from Honduras
Who lives in Lenoir: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lenoir, the largest foreign-born group is from Honduras (24.9%), and 11.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.5%
of residents
65 and Older
22.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.0%
of households
Married Couples
34.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.17
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 46% below NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Lenoir
In Lenoir, rent runs 46% below the NC average, and home values are 38% below the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
33.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
88.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,311
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $211,259 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NC
Unemployment in Lenoir
Unemployment in Caldwell County, which includes Lenoir, is close to the NC average.
Unemployment rate
Lenoir: Caldwell County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Caldwell County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Lenoir Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.8 min avg
How Lenoir residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lenoir, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 64% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 59 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lenoir is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
345
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,006.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lenoir Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
67.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Caldwell County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Caldwell County, which includes Lenoir, the most common type is winter weather, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | Hail | $100,000 |
| 2024 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $42.0M |
| 2023 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2,000 |
| 2022 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6,000 |
| 2021 | 12 | Winter Weather | $500 |
| 2020 | 13 | Winter Weather | $156,000 |
| 2019 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $52,000 |
| 2018 | 29 | Winter Weather | $272,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Caldwell County, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Caldwell County, which includes Lenoir, is typically good.
Median AQI
36
Caldwell County, county-wide
Climate86°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lenoir has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
69°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
51°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.7"
Annual Snowfall
4.1"
Hot Days/Year
36
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
91
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
122
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 27°F | 3.93" |
| Feb | 53°F | 30°F | 3.33" |
| Mar | 60°F | 36°F | 4.29" |
| Apr | 70°F | 45°F | 4.44" |
| May | 77°F | 54°F | 4.38" |
| Jun | 84°F | 63°F | 4.73" |
| Jul | 88°F | 67°F | 4.60" |
| Aug | 86°F | 65°F | 4.48" |
| Sep | 80°F | 59°F | 4.25" |
| Oct | 71°F | 46°F | 3.63" |
| Nov | 61°F | 36°F | 3.33" |
| Dec | 52°F | 30°F | 4.27" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lenoir
Lenoir has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
12.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Caldwell Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Broughton Hospital
Psychiatric · 14.7 mi away · Morganton
Blue Ridge Healthcare Hospitals, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.8 mi away · Morganton
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lenoir
Lenoir's student/teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 21.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
21.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Kings Mountain National Military Park, 54 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lenoir
Lenoir has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Kings Mountain National Military Park (54 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Kings Mountain National Military Park
National Military Park
54 mi awayOvermountain Victory National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
54 mi awayCowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
56 mi awayBlue Ridge Parkway
Parkway
59 mi awayCarl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
68 mi awayAndrew Johnson National Historic Site
National Historic Site
75 mi awayGuilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lenoir
Caldwell County Public Library
120 Hospital Ave, Lenoir
Cities Near Lenoir
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lenoir?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lenoir FAQ
Is Lenoir, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Lenoir's median rent is $664/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $49,910/year. Median home value is $179,400.
Is Lenoir, North Carolina safe?⌄
Lenoir's violent crime rate was 345 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3006 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lenoir, North Carolina?⌄
Caldwell County, which includes Lenoir, has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lenoir, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Lenoir is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $664/month and median household income is $49,910/year. The median home value is $179,400. About 33% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lenoir, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Lenoir is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from