CountyScore

Cleveland County

North Carolina · NC

#41 in North Carolina
68
County Score

County Report Card

About Cleveland County, North Carolina

Strong livability above national median

Cleveland County scores 74.7, nearly 50% above the national median of 50.0. The county demonstrates solid, consistent performance on livability measures.

Slightly above state average

With a score of 74.7, Cleveland ties Catawba County and edges past North Carolina's average of 72.7. The county ranks in the state's solid upper-middle tier.

Balanced affordability and low taxes

Cleveland offers a tax score of 82.9 with an effective rate of 0.688%, and a cost score of 82.3 with median home values of $180,200. The county delivers genuine affordability across housing and taxation.

Income growth remains modest

An income score of 19.8 and median household income of $55,769 are below broader state benchmarks. Additional data on safety, health, schools, and environmental factors are not yet available.

Ideal for working families seeking value

Cleveland County suits middle-income families and workers prioritizing affordable housing and reasonable taxes. It's a good choice for those seeking small-city amenities without significant financial strain.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax82.9Cost82.3SafetyComing SoonHealth62.6SchoolsComing SoonIncome19.8Risk30WaterComing Soon
🏛82.9
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠82.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼19.8
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤62.6
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡30
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Cleveland County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Northwest Arctic Borough
Alaska
68
Median income: $81,298
Pitkin County
Colorado
68
Median income: $100,318
Jackson County
Florida
68
Median income: $47,327
Calhoun County
Georgia
68
Median income: $55,714
Early County
Georgia
68
Median income: $53,750

Deep Dives

Cleveland County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Cleveland County

via TaxByCounty

Cleveland stays below national median

At 0.688%, Cleveland's effective rate sits about 22% below the national median of 0.88%, offering moderate tax relief for homeowners. The median tax bill of $1,240 runs less than half the national median of $2,690, placing Cleveland in the bottom 30th percentile nationally.

Just slightly above state average

Cleveland's 0.688% rate trails North Carolina's state average of 0.701% by a narrow margin, making it a typical North Carolina county for tax burden. The median tax of $1,240 falls below the state median of $1,433, reflecting Cleveland's lower median home values.

Cleveland matches Piedmont tax profile

Cleveland's 0.688% rate clusters with nearby Caswell (0.677%) and Chowan (0.686%), representing the moderate-tax band across the state's middle. The county beats western outliers like Clay (0.451%) and Cherokee (0.501%), but trails no regional neighbor by much.

Median home costs $1,240 yearly

A typical Cleveland home valued at $180,200 generates an estimated annual property tax of $1,240. With a mortgage, the effective bill rises to $1,383 due to additional county assessments.

Appeal if your home is overvalued

Cleveland homeowners should verify their assessed values reflect current market conditions—a discrepancy of even 10% can cost hundreds annually. File a free assessment appeal with Cleveland County's assessor office to ensure fair taxation.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Cleveland County

via CostByCounty

Cleveland's rents near national average burden

Cleveland County's 18.0% rent-to-income ratio runs just below the national norm, with $835 monthly rent and $55,769 income reflecting a typical American housing situation. The county sits solidly in the middle range of national affordability, neither exceptional nor strained.

Close to North Carolina's average affordability

Cleveland's 18.0% rent-to-income ratio nearly matches North Carolina's 18.6% state average, placing it squarely in the mainstream of the state's housing market. The $835 median rent tracks close to the state's $938 average, making Cleveland a representative North Carolina housing experience.

Mid-range pricing in regional context

Cleveland's $835 rent sits between rural Caswell ($699) and more urban Catawba ($891), while its $180,200 median home value stays lowest among counties in the broader peer group. This positions Cleveland as accessible for first-time homebuyers seeking modest leverage.

Ownership costs sink lower than rents

Cleveland renters spend 18.0% of their $55,769 income on housing, but homeowners pay only 15.6% to mortgages—a significant 2.4-point advantage for ownership seekers. This gap makes Cleveland appealing for renters ready to build equity rather than pay landlords indefinitely.

Solid ground for first-time homebuyers

Cleveland County offers mainstream North Carolina housing costs with a 18.0% rent-to-income ratio and $180,200 median home values—lowest among peer counties and ideal for first-time buyers. The 15.6% ownership burden outperforms the 18.0% renting cost, rewarding the move to homeownership on a $55,769 median income.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Cleveland County

via IncomeByCounty

Cleveland income trails national benchmarks

Cleveland County's median household income of $55,769 falls $18,986 below the national median of $74,755, a 25% gap. The county's textile and manufacturing heritage has left economic challenges as regional employment shifted.

Notably below state average income

At $55,769, Cleveland's median household income lags North Carolina's state average of $61,072 by $5,303. The county ranks in the lower-middle tier statewide, reflecting the economic stress facing traditional mill communities across the piedmont.

Low-income county in piedmont region

Cleveland's $55,769 income ranks between Cherokee ($51,496) and Caswell ($59,407) in this comparison, making it one of the region's more economically challenged counties. The county's industrial decline contrasts sharply with Catawba's more diversified manufacturing base.

Housing costs strain household budgets

Cleveland's rent-to-income ratio of 18.0% means housing consumes approximately one-fifth of median household income, among the highest in this group. The median home value of $180,200 represents a significant commitment for workers earning under $56,000.

Invest in skills and economic mobility

Cleveland County households earning $55,769 should prioritize education and workforce development to access higher-wage opportunities in growth sectors. Community college programs, apprenticeships, and certifications offer pathways to increase earning power and build long-term economic resilience.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Cleveland County

via HealthByCounty

Lowest life expectancy in the region

Cleveland County's 72.0-year life expectancy is the lowest among these eight counties and trails both the U.S. average of 76.4 years and North Carolina's 74.4 years by more than two years. With 20.9% reporting poor or fair health, Cleveland faces significant health headwinds.

Bottom tier in state health rankings

Cleveland ranks among the lowest North Carolina counties for life expectancy, falling 2.4 years below the state average. This gap suggests structural health challenges—from disease prevalence to healthcare access—that compound over time.

Substantially trails peer counties

Cleveland's 72.0-year life expectancy trails all nearby counties, with the gap to Chatham's 79.9 years approaching eight years. Primary care access at 44 per 100,000 is limited, and the combination of access shortages and health disparities creates a compounding disadvantage.

Best coverage rates, persistent access gaps

Cleveland's 11.0% uninsured rate is the lowest in the region, yet life expectancy lags anyway—suggesting coverage alone doesn't solve health disparities. With only 44 primary care providers per 100,000, residents often face long waits or must travel for basic preventive care.

Insurance is step one in turning the tide

Cleveland's uninsured rate is already strong, but the 11% without coverage should enroll immediately at HealthCare.gov. Combined with proactive preventive care, insurance can help residents reverse the county's troubling health trajectory.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Cleveland County

via RiskByCounty

Cleveland's risk moderately above national

Cleveland County's composite risk score of 70.01 places it in the "Relatively Low" category, above the national average. The county faces moderate exposure to multiple natural hazards.

Slightly elevated risk for North Carolina

Cleveland's score of 70.01 exceeds North Carolina's state average of 66.72, ranking it in the higher-risk portion of the state's county distribution. The county's profile reflects above-average vulnerability.

Riskier than Cherokee, safer than Catawba

Cleveland's 70.01 score positions it between Cherokee County (56.71) and Catawba County (80.57), making it moderately risky within its regional context. Nearby Columbus County (86.86) faces notably higher overall risk.

Tornadoes and flooding lead hazard list

Cleveland faces tornado risk of 79.77 and flood risk of 75.16, both above state averages and reflecting vulnerability to severe weather. Earthquake risk at 81.77 adds a secondary concern that shouldn't be overlooked.

Multi-hazard insurance coverage recommended

Given tornado and flood risks both exceeding 75, Cleveland residents should maintain comprehensive homeowners insurance covering wind, hail, and water damage. Consider supplemental flood insurance to protect against the county's 75.16 flood risk.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.