Caldwell County vs Wilson County
A side-by-side comparison of Caldwell County and Wilson County: population, income, housing, and more.
Caldwell County and Wilson County are counties in North Carolina. This page compares them across population, income, housing, education, commuting, and how each has changed since 2019.
Caldwell County has the higher population (80,618 vs 78,648 in Wilson County). Caldwell County has the higher median household income ($55,401 vs $51,381 in Wilson County). Caldwell County has the higher median home value ($174,000 vs $171,800 in Wilson County).
Population, income & housing
| Caldwell County | Wilson County | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 80,618 | 78,648 |
| Median age | 45.5 yrs | 40.7 yrs |
| Median household income | $55,401 | $51,381 |
| Median home value | $174,000 | $171,800 |
| Median gross rent | $735 | $915 |
| Housing units | 37,231 | 36,702 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.0% | 59.1% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.6% | 20.3% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 6.0% |
Trends (ACS 5-year, 2019–2023)
| Caldwell County | Wilson County | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 81,884 → 80,618 (-1.5%) | 81,435 → 78,648 (-3.4%) |
| Median household income | $44,511 → $55,401 (+24.5%) | $43,877 → $51,381 (+17.1%) |
| Median home value | $118,100 → $174,000 (+47.3%) | $123,600 → $171,800 (+39.0%) |
| Median gross rent | $645 → $735 (+14.0%) | $753 → $915 (+21.5%) |
Caldwell County
81,88480,618
$44,511$55,401
$118,100$174,000
$645$735
Wilson County
81,43578,648
$43,877$51,381
$123,600$171,800
$753$915
Age & race/ethnicity
Age distribution (share)
| Caldwell County | Wilson County | |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5 | 4.9% | 5.9% |
| 5 to 17 | 15.0% | 17.1% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.7% | 8.2% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.3% | 12.1% |
| 35 to 44 | 10.5% | 12.0% |
| 45 to 54 | 14.7% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 14.7% | 13.6% |
| 65 to 74 | 12.7% | 11.6% |
| 75 and over | 8.4% | 7.4% |
Race & ethnicity (share)
| Caldwell County | Wilson County | |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 85.7% | 44.8% |
| Black or African American | 4.1% | 39.1% |
| American Indian & Alaska Native | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Asian | 0.5% | 1.0% |
| Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| Some other race | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Two or more races | 3.1% | 2.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 6.4% | 11.9% |
Educational attainment (age 25+)
Share of adults 25+
| Caldwell County | Wilson County | |
|---|---|---|
| No high school diploma | 17.2% | 15.6% |
| High school graduate | 31.7% | 34.2% |
| Some college or associate's | 32.5% | 29.9% |
| Bachelor's degree | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| Graduate or professional degree | 5.6% | 8.0% |
Commute to work
How workers get to work (share)
| Caldwell County | Wilson County | |
|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 81.5% | 81.1% |
| Carpooled | 10.6% | 9.3% |
| Public transit | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Walked | 0.7% | 1.5% |
| Bicycle | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Worked from home | 6.3% | 6.5% |
| Other means | 1.0% | 1.5% |
Housing
Units in structure (share)
| Caldwell County | Wilson County | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-unit, detached | 72.2% | 63.1% |
| 1-unit, attached | 1.0% | 3.0% |
| 2 to 4 units | 5.7% | 12.4% |
| 5 to 19 units | 3.3% | 5.3% |
| 20 or more units | 1.5% | 1.9% |
| Mobile home & other | 16.4% | 14.3% |
Poverty & households
| Caldwell County | Wilson County | |
|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 21.0% |
| Average household size | 2.43 | 2.35 |
| Mean commute (minutes) | 27 | 22 |
| Median year structure built | 1981 | 1985 |
Full profiles
2Related rankings
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- Highest median household income — counties in North Carolina
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