2026 CFLEADS Economic Mobility Summit

The last ten years reshaped Caldwell County.

The population grew by roughly 10,000 residents. New jobs have been created, especially in growing sectors like restaurants and construction. Meanwhile, housing became significantly more expensive.

Many trends that reshaped the rest of the nation are also present in Caldwell County. For example, nearly 1 in 10 residents now work from home. The local population is also aging. About 15% of residents are over 65.

Median household incomes in Caldwell County have shifted little over the past decade, and many local families are struggling to make ends meet.

10,000 residents live just above the poverty line. This group is often called near-poor, similar to the group that some researchers label ALICE, for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These households typically earn incomes between about $35,000 and $70,000 a year for a family of four.

6,000 residents live in poverty. These households typically earn incomes less than about $35,000 a year for a family of four.

So, how does poverty in Caldwell County compare to similar counties?

[BULLET] The share of residents who are poor is larger than in peer counties, but it has fallen significantly in recent years.

[BULLET] The share of poor adults who are elderly or disabled is lower than the share among peers. About 33% of poor adults fall into this group.

Something went wrong when submitting the form. Please refresh and try again.

Something went wrong when submitting the form. Please refresh and try again.

If you are interested in learning more about Common Good Labs and our research, please sign up for our quarterly newsletter here.

Photo attribution: Reading Associate 17, via wikimedia, licensed under BY-SA 4.0. Converted to WebP from the original.