State rank#29 of 100
Smallest county100,991 residentsWake County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 37045
Cleveland County, North Carolina
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population100,991
Household income$58,534
Unemployment4%
Life expectancy72 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Cleveland County has 100,991 residents and ranks #29 by population among North Carolina county equivalents. Median household income is $58,534. The annual-average unemployment rate is 4%. Its clearest relative strength is uninsured. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within North Carolina
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Cleveland County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Cleveland County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is uninsured.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $200,000 median home value and $914/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $58,534, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Cleveland County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing uninsured, median home value, and median gross rent. College attainment is 22% and life expectancy is 72 years.
Potential advantages
- Uninsured: 11%, rank #24 of 100 available North Carolina counties.
- Median home value: $200,000, rank #41 of 100 available North Carolina counties.
- Median gross rent: $914/mo, rank #54 of 100 available North Carolina counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Life expectancy: 72 years, rank #83 of 100; investigate local variation before moving.
- Poor or fair health: 20.9%, rank #71 of 100; investigate local variation before moving.
- Unemployment rate: 4%, rank #68 of 100; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within North Carolina
Rank and range use only counties in North Carolina with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$58,534
$58,534; below the state county median of $60,230.
State rank #58 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$200,000
$200,000; below the state county median of $219,700.
State rank #41 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$914/mo
$914/mo; above the state county median of $886/mo.
State rank #54 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
4%
4%; above the state county median of 3.7%.
State rank #68 of 100 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
22%
22%; below the state county median of 23.5%.
State rank #54 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
72 years
72 years; below the state county median of 74.2 years.
State rank #83 of 100 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
20.9%
20.9%; above the state county median of 18.9%.
State rank #71 of 100 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
11%
11%; below the state county median of 12.3%.
State rank #24 of 100 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 2,281 residents
1 per 2,281 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 2,158 residents.
State rank #54 of 98 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 611 residents
1 per 611 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 521 residents.
State rank #57 of 99 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Cleveland County FAQ
Is Cleveland County a good place to live?
Cleveland County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing uninsured, median home value, and median gross rent. College attainment is 22% and life expectancy is 72 years.
What should I know before moving to Cleveland County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $200,000 median home value and $914/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $58,534, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Cleveland County?
Cleveland County has 100,991 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Cleveland County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 37045; the parent state FIPS is 37.
What is the median household income in Cleveland County?
The ACS median household income is $58,534.
How much does housing cost in Cleveland County?
Housing benchmarks are $200,000 median home value and $914/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $58,534, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Cleveland County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 4%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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