RANK #868 / 996 · POP 99,527 · NC
PROJECTED GROWTH: -1.2%
Cleveland County, North Carolina, is known for its scenic location in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering residents access to rolling countryside and natural beauty. The county seat, Shelby, features a courthouse square and is recognized for its affordable housing. Other notable towns include Kings Mountain, with its historical significance related to the Revolutionary War, and Boiling Springs, home to Gardner-Webb University. Commuting within the county averages around 25 minutes, with public transportation options available through the Transportation Administration of Cleveland County (TACC), which also offers limited routes to neighboring counties. Outdoor recreation is a draw, with Moss Lake Park providing opportunities for fishing and waterskiing, and the Broad River Greenway offering trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Crowders Mountain State Park, less than 30 minutes from Shelby, provides rugged terrain for hiking and rock climbing.
Life in Cleveland County offers a small-town atmosphere, attracting families and individuals seeking a community-oriented environment. The public school system, Cleveland County Schools, serves over 14,000 students across 28 schools and is highly rated. The local economy, historically rooted in agriculture and textiles, has diversified, with recent growth in manufacturing, aerospace, and data center sectors. This shift has brought new opportunities, and the county focuses on workforce development through partnerships with institutions like Cleveland Community College to meet the needs of evolving industries.
Below national median
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 3.3x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Enterprise Data Center Campus
Multiple Fortune 50 companies (unnamed)
|
$1,000M | Operating |
|
Kings Mountain Energy Center
NTE Energy LLC (affiliate NTE Carolinas)
|
$600M | Operating |
|
PPG Manufacturing Center
PPG
|
$380M | Planned |
|
Broad River Solar Plant
Duke Energy Renewables
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Cleveland County has a Boom Town Index score of 13/100, ranking #868 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.9% and a median household income of $50,723, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Cleveland County is $155,000 with median rent at $794/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3272, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.6% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.9%. Home values changed -3.5% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.93% of Cleveland County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.