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Living in
Lincolnton.
About
Life in Lincolnton
Lincolnton is a community of 11,503 people in North Carolina. The median household income is $46,320, median rent runs about $965 per month, and median home values are around $248,700. Unemployment is low at 3.3%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Lincolnton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
22.7%
Foreign-Born
7.9%
Broadband Internet
87.8%
of households
Population Growth
+12.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.9% foreign-born, most often from Costa Rica
Who lives in Lincolnton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lincolnton, the largest foreign-born group is from Costa Rica (41.1%), and 11.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.0%
of residents
65 and Older
19.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.0%
of households
Married Couples
40.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.28
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 21% below NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Lincolnton
In Lincolnton, rent runs 21% below the NC average, and home values are 14% below the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,970
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
46.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1973
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $295,965 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below NC average
Unemployment in Lincolnton and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Lincoln County, which includes Lincolnton, is 0.4 percentage points lower than the NC average.
Unemployment rate
Lincolnton: Lincoln County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Lincoln County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Lincolnton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area
Commute25 min avg
How Lincolnton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lincolnton, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 61% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 25 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.
Safetyviolent crime 31% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lincolnton runs 31% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
228.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,956.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lincolnton Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 9 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
73.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lincoln County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lincoln County, which includes Lincolnton, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 9 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11,000 |
| 2024 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2023 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $12,000 |
| 2021 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,500 |
| 2020 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $540,500 |
| 2019 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2018 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6,000 |
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.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Lincoln County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lincoln County, which includes Lincolnton, is typically good.
Median AQI
41
Lincoln County, county-wide
Climate87°F summers, 32°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lincolnton has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 32°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
72°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
54°/32°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.1"
Annual Snowfall
5.6"
Hot Days/Year
35
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
76
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
119
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51°F | 30°F | 3.93" |
| Feb | 56°F | 33°F | 3.52" |
| Mar | 64°F | 39°F | 4.51" |
| Apr | 73°F | 47°F | 4.25" |
| May | 79°F | 56°F | 4.22" |
| Jun | 86°F | 64°F | 4.28" |
| Jul | 89°F | 67°F | 4.09" |
| Aug | 87°F | 67°F | 4.86" |
| Sep | 82°F | 60°F | 4.17" |
| Oct | 73°F | 48°F | 3.81" |
| Nov | 62°F | 38°F | 3.79" |
| Dec | 54°F | 33°F | 4.07" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lincolnton
Lincolnton 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
Atrium Health Lincoln
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education14.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lincolnton
Lincolnton's student/teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 24.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, 24 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lincolnton
Lincolnton has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (24 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
24 mi awayKings Mountain National Military Park
National Military Park
25 mi awayCowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
40 mi awayBlue Ridge Parkway
Parkway
70 mi awayCarl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
70 mi awayGuilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
90 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lincolnton
Charles R. Jonas Library
306 W Main St, Lincolnton
Cities Near Lincolnton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lincolnton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lincolnton FAQ
Is Lincolnton, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Lincolnton's median rent is $965/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $46,320/year. Median home value is $248,700.
Is Lincolnton, North Carolina safe?⌄
Lincolnton's violent crime rate was 229 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1956 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lincolnton, North Carolina?⌄
Lincoln County, which includes Lincolnton, has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lincolnton, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Lincolnton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $965/month and median household income is $46,320/year. The median home value is $248,700. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lincolnton, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Lincolnton 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