What are the schools like in St. Stephens, NC?

School district data for St. Stephens is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in St. Stephens?

The median household income in St. Stephens, NC is $59,597 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.2%.

What is the weather like in St. Stephens, NC?

St. Stephens has an average high temperature of 49.1°F in January and 87.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 46.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.3 inches.

St. Stephens, NC Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is St. Stephens, NC affordable or expensive?

St. Stephens's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means St. Stephens is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $167,500 and the median rent is $850 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in St. Stephens, NC?

St. Stephens has a violent crime rate of 226.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1492.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is St. Stephens, NC a Good Place to Live?

St. Stephens is a small town of 9,624 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $59,597 and a 4.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: St. Stephens stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether St. Stephens is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All St. Stephens 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

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

Metric	St. Stephens, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$167,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$850	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	78.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$59,597	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

St. Stephens'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

Metric	St. Stephens, NC	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	84.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

St. Stephens sees average highs of 49.1°F in January and 87.4°F in July, with 46.5 inches of annual precipitation and 0.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	St. Stephens, NC
Average High — January	49.1°F
Average High — July	87.4°F
Annual Precipitation	46.5"
Annual Snowfall	0.3"

Demographics

Metric	St. Stephens, NC	National Avg
Population	9,624	—
Median Age	43.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	75.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	11.5%	18.9%
Asian	3.9%	6.3%
Under 18	22.2%	22.2%
65 and over	19.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hickory, NC 3 mi Bethlehem, NC 4 mi Conover, NC 5 mi Northlakes, NC 5 mi Brookford, NC 6 mi

St. Stephens vs Other Cities

St. Stephens, NC vs Hickory, NC St. Stephens, NC vs Bethlehem, NC St. Stephens, NC vs Conover, NC St. Stephens, NC vs Northlakes, NC St. Stephens, NC vs Brookford, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is St. Stephens, NC affordable or expensive?

St. Stephens's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes St. Stephens roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $167,500 and median rent is $850/month.

What is the crime rate in St. Stephens, NC?

St. Stephens'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.

What are the schools like in St. Stephens?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is St. Stephens, NC a good place to live?

St. Stephens, NC has a population of 9,624, a median household income of $59,597, and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. 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.

What is the weather like in St. Stephens?

St. Stephens averages 49.1°F in January and 87.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.5 inches with about 0.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of St. Stephens?

The population of St. Stephens, North Carolina is 9,624 with a median age of 43.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in St. Stephens?

Key numbers for living in St. Stephens: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $167,500, median household income $59,597, crime index 64 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare St. Stephens side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.