Median Income
$96,908
household / year
Median Home Value
$505,200
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,000
gross / month
Cost of Living
89
national avg = 100

Is Lake Norman of Catawba, NC a Good Place to Live?

Lake Norman of Catawba is a small town of 8,998 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $96,908 and a 4.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Lake Norman of Catawba stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, longer commutes. Whether Lake Norman of Catawba is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Lake Norman of Catawba city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 89.2

Lake Norman of Catawba's overall cost of living index is 89.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lake Norman of Catawba costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric Lake Norman of Catawba, NC National Avg
Median Home Value $505,200 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,000 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 85.8% 65.9%
Median Household Income $96,908 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Lake Norman of Catawba's violent crime rate is 226.3 per 100,000 residents — 40% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
226.3 /100k
Property Crime
1492.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Lake Norman of Catawba is served primarily by Catawba County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.4:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Lake Norman of Catawba, NC National Avg
School District Catawba County Schools
Elementary Schools 16
Middle Schools 5
High Schools 6
Student/Teacher Ratio 17.4:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 44.3% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 94.2% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lake Norman of Catawba sees average highs of 50.3°F in January and 88.7°F in July, with 46.6 inches of annual precipitation and 4.9 inches of snow per year.

MetricLake Norman of Catawba, NC
Average High — January50.3°F
Average High — July88.7°F
Annual Precipitation46.6"
Annual Snowfall4.9"

Demographics

MetricLake Norman of Catawba, NCNational Avg
Population8,998
Median Age49.738.9
Unemployment Rate4.0%3.7%
Avg Commute Time32.0 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)93.8%59.3%
Black or African American1.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino4.2%18.9%
Asian0.3%6.3%
Under 1817.8%22.2%
65 and over23.9%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Lake Norman of Catawba

Lake Norman of Catawba, NC is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

Lake Norman of Catawba vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Lake Norman of Catawba's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Lake Norman of Catawba roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $505,200 and median rent is $1,000/month.
Lake Norman of Catawba's violent crime rate is 226.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1492.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Lake Norman of Catawba are operated by Catawba County Schools. The district has 16 elementary, 5 middle, and 6 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.4:1. 44.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lake Norman of Catawba, NC has a population of 8,998, a median household income of $96,908, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Lake Norman of Catawba averages 50.3°F in January and 88.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.6 inches with about 4.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lake Norman of Catawba, NC is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 28673, 28682.
The population of Lake Norman of Catawba, North Carolina is 8,998 with a median age of 49.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lake Norman of Catawba: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $505,200, median household income $96,908, crime index 64 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lake Norman of Catawba side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.