Very AffordableNear National AverageCaldwell County Schools
Lenoir Main Street-27527 · Ken Thomas / Public domainLenoir · Dmanisgnarly / CC BY-SA 4.0Hibriten · Dmanisgnarly / CC BY-SA 4.0City of Lenoir View from Hibriten Mountain · Cbfisher / CC BY-SA 4.0
Lenoir is a small city of 18,301 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $44,802
and a 6.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Lenoir stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lenoir is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Lenoir 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
Lenoir's overall cost of living index is 89.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Lenoir costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Lenoir, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$145,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$656
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
64.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$44,802
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Lenoir's violent crime rate is 258.2 per 100,000 residents
— 32% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
258.2 /100k
Property Crime
3219.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Lenoir is served primarily by Caldwell County Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.5:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Lenoir, NC
National Avg
School District
Caldwell County Schools
—
Elementary Schools
14
—
Middle Schools
4
—
High Schools
6
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
84.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Lenoir sees average highs of 49.1°F in January
and 87.5°F in July,
with 49.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 4.1 inches of snow per year.
Lenoir's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Lenoir roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $145,200 and median rent is $656/month.
Lenoir's violent crime rate is 258.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3219.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Lenoir are operated by Caldwell County Schools.
The district has 14 elementary, 4 middle, and 6 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.5:1. 17.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lenoir, NC has a population of 18,301, a median household income of $44,802, and an unemployment rate of 6.8%.
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.
Lenoir averages 49.1°F in January and 87.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.7 inches
with about 4.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lenoir, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28645.
The population of Lenoir, North Carolina is 18,301 with a median age of 43.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lenoir: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $145,200, median household income $44,802, crime index 102 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lenoir side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
