The Town FilesConover, North Carolina
City in Catawba County · population 8,421 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $271,300
- Household income
- $65,972
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 36.8
Conover is a city of 8,421 people in Catawba County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $271,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 85% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 78% of North Carolina towns.
How Conover ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Conover is worth $271,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $65,972, which is more affordable than 41% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $898 a month. 69.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Conover | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $271,300 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $898 | $969 |
| Median household income | $65,972 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 69.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Conover
| People | Conover | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 89.5% |
Weather in Conover
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 31.3°F. About 46.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.0 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 53 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Conover since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 23, 2017 about 9.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 88 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 3, 1998.
Severe weather in Catawba County since 1996
Catawba County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Catawba County
Catawba County had 89,388 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,761 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Conover itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Conover
5 public schools with 2,226 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Stephens Elementary | K-6 | 730 | 14.3 |
| Newton-Conover Middle | 6-8 | 544 | 14.3 |
| Lyle Creek Elementary | PK-6 | 444 | 12.7 |
| Shuford Elementary | K-5 | 402 | 15.5 |
| Conover Special Education | PK-12 | 106 | 8.2 |
Towns near Conover
- Newton, NC3.8 mi · 13,148 people · home $186,300
- St. Stephens, NC4.7 mi · 8,852 people · home $213,300
- Hickory, NC6.2 mi · 43,490 people · home $278,400
- Bethlehem, NC8.5 mi · 4,491 people · home $327,000
- Maiden, NC8.6 mi · 3,736 people · home $233,800
- Mountain View, NC8.9 mi · 3,590 people · home $222,500
- Long View, NC9.6 mi · 5,088 people · home $157,300
- Granite Falls, NC13.0 mi · 4,965 people · home $202,400
Conover questions
Is Conover, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Conover scores better for retirees than 15% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 26%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.8).
How much does a house cost in Conover?
The median owner-occupied home in Conover is valued at $271,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,972, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $898 a month.
What is the weather like in Conover?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 31.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 3.0 inches of snow.
Does Conover get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Conover since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 23, 2017. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)