The typical owner-occupied home in Caldwell County is worth about $192,200, 33% below the North Carolina median of $288,900 and 42% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,150 a year in property taxes, about 0.60% of their home's value, lower than the North Carolina rate of 0.66%. The median household earns $56,425 a year, so the median home costs 3.4 times the median income (4.0 times for North Carolina). 74% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 51% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Caldwell County at a glance
| Caldwell County | North Carolina | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $192,200 | $288,900 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,150 | $1,896 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.60% | 0.66% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $56,425 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 74% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 51% | 61% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,191 | $1,631 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 18.0% | 19.4% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $744 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 25.6% | 29.5% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1980 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 12.0% | 12.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 80,536 | 10,730,404 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Caldwell County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Caldwell County home of $192,200 with 20% down costs about $1,211 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,531, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $51,880 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 26% of the median Caldwell County household income of $56,425; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $209,000.
The median rent here is $744 a month, so owning the median home costs about $467 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $38,440 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $153,760 |
| Principal and interest | $1,034 |
| Property taxes (0.60% a year) | $96 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $80 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,211 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $6,727 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $188,719 |
| Principal and interest | $1,270 |
| Property taxes (0.60% a year) | $96 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $80 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $85 |
| Total per month | $1,531 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Caldwell County
What is the median home value in Caldwell County?
About $192,200 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Caldwell County?
Homeowners pay a median $1,150 a year, which is about 0.60% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Caldwell County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,211 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $51,880 a year.
More about Caldwell County
- Mortgage Refinance in Caldwell County
- Debt Relief in Caldwell County
- Home Equity Loans in Caldwell County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data