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Lenoir, NC
City in Caldwell County, North Carolina.
Population
18,299
Land area
20.8sq mi
People per sq mi
879
ZIP codes
0
Lenoir and its ZIP codes
Lenoir at a glance
- Lenoir is about 4 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
- It is the 56th most populous of 772 cities and towns in North Carolina.
- Households here earn a median of $49,910 a year, 31% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $179,400 (38% below North Carolina) and median rent is $664 a month.
Local data for Lenoir, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Lenoir, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$49,910
Poverty rate
14.6%
Median home value
$179,400
Median rent
$664/mo
Homeownership
64.2%
Bachelor's or higher
21.2%
Median age
45.7
Average commute
24.8 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (2,121), Irish Americans (1,471), Scottish Americans (699).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Caldwell County. PPP loans are for Lenoir.
Unemployment rate
3.5%
Aug 2026, -0.7 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$52,038
25,294 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$50,611
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$562M
FY 2026, $6,971 per person
How people get to work
Lenoir, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone77.2%
- Carpooled10.5%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.3%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.9%
- Worked from home11.1%
Average one-way commute: 24.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Lenoir, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
583
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
137
0.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
88° / 27°F
49.7 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone7 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Lenoir, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.1%
U.S. 33.3% +1.8 pts
Diabetes
14.2%
U.S. 12.1% +2.1 pts
Smoking
17.8%
U.S. 12.8% +5.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
13.3%
U.S. 11.1% +2.2 pts
Cities near Lenoir
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar RockVillage | 4.5 mi | 1.1 |
| Cajah's MountainTown | 4.6 mi | 3.4 |
| GamewellTown | 5 mi | 8.1 |
| HudsonTown | 5.1 mi | 3.7 |
| SawmillsTown | 7.8 mi | 6.6 |
| Granite FallsTown | 9.9 mi | 4.9 |
| Connelly SpringsTown | 11 mi | 5 |
| Rutherford CollegeTown | 11 mi | 2.3 |
| RhodhissTown | 12 mi | 1.2 |
| DrexelTown | 12 mi | 1.4 |
| ValdeseTown | 13 mi | 7.9 |
| NorthlakesCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 1.5 |
| IcardCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 3.8 |
| MorgantonCity | 15 mi | 19.2 |
| HildebranTown | 15 mi | 2.8 |
| BethlehemCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 7.6 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Lenoir, NC in?
- Lenoir is in Caldwell County, North Carolina.
- What is the population of Lenoir, NC?
- About 18,299 people live in Lenoir, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Lenoir?
- Nearby places include Cedar Rock (4.5 mi), Cajah's Mountain (4.6 mi), Gamewell (5 mi), Hudson (5.1 mi), Sawmills (7.8 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023