This article is part of an ongoing, county-by county, overview of the Rural Capital Area. This article covers household income and the income distribution in Caldwell County. This information helps track how well residents can afford basic needs like housing, food, and healthcare as well as relative prosperity compared to other areas.  

Median Household Income

As shown in Figure 1, median household income in Caldwell County has increased notably in recent years, rising from approximately $47,000 in 2014 to nearly $71,000 in 2024. Caldwell County’s median income briefly approached the national median around 2020, indicating a period of relative income convergence with the broader U.S. That trend has since reversed, though, to a more typical gap between the County and the U.S. seen in the prior years.

Figure 1: Median Household Income, 2014-2024

Source: Points Consulting using Rural Capital Area Data Hub

Figure 2 illustrates the cumulative change in median household income from 2014 to 2024. Income in Caldwell County had a cumulative growth of about 50.3% over the 10-year period. This increase is slightly lower than the national trend, where median household income grew 52.1% during the same timeframe. One potential explanation for this increase in Caldwell County is the expansion of industries that tend to offer higher-paying jobs. As of 2024, the average salaries in Construction and Professional and Business Services sectors were above $70,000 in Caldwell County.^[1] Additionally, employment in these sectors increased 158.0% and 32.6% respectively between 2014 and 2024.^[2]

Figure 2: Cumulative Growth in Median Household Income, 2014-2024

Source: Points Consulting using Rural Capital Area Data Hub

Figure 3 shows that most households in Caldwell County fall within higher income brackets. In 2024, 41.9% of households earned less than $60,000 annually, while 58.1% earned $60,000 or more, with a majority of those households earnings between $75,000 and $99,999. The distribution is not uniform, but instead peaks within the upper-middle-income ranges, particularly between $75,000 and $99,999, indicating a strong middle-income base. While there is a meaningful presence of households earning above $100,000, the distribution tapers at higher income levels, indicating a stable but not heavily high-income-skewed population.

Figure 3: Caldwell County, Household Income Distribution, 2024

Source: Points Consulting using Rural Capital Area Data Hub