The Town FilesKings Mountain, North Carolina
City in Cleveland County · population 11,142 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $204,100
- Household income
- $49,564
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 37.2
Kings Mountain is a city of 11,142 people in Cleveland County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $204,100, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more walkable than 91% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 84% of North Carolina towns, better for cycling than 83% of North Carolina towns.
How Kings Mountain 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 Kings Mountain is worth $204,100, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $49,564, which is more affordable than 41% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $959 a month. 62.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kings Mountain | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $204,100 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $959 | $969 |
| Median household income | $49,564 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 62.1% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Kings Mountain
| People | Kings Mountain | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.0% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.2% | 89.5% |
Weather in Kings Mountain
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 32.5°F. About 43.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.9 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kings Mountain since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on February 6, 2020 about 2.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 29, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Cleveland County since 1996
Cleveland County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 Cleveland County
Cleveland County had 36,696 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,753 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Kings Mountain itself the ACS puts it at 7.7%.
Public schools in Kings Mountain
7 public schools with 3,924 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kings Mountain High | 9-12 | 1,317 | 18.0 |
| Kings Mountain Middle | 7-8 | 664 | 16.6 |
| Kings Mountain Intermediate | 5-6 | 632 | 18.6 |
| Bethware Elementary | PK-4 | 530 | 15.1 |
| North Elementary | PK-4 | 291 | 13.2 |
| West Elementary | PK-4 | 287 | 14.4 |
| East Elementary | PK-4 | 203 | 11.9 |
Towns near Kings Mountain
- Bessemer City, NC5.2 mi · 5,428 people · home $206,100
- Gastonia, NC9.5 mi · 80,411 people · home $277,600
- Cherryville, NC10.6 mi · 6,078 people · home $232,100
- Dallas, NC11.2 mi · 5,927 people · home $254,000
- Clover, SC11.2 mi · 6,671 people · home $295,700
- Shelby, NC11.7 mi · 21,918 people · home $197,200
- Ranlo, NC13.1 mi · 4,511 people · home $200,200
- Lowell, NC14.2 mi · 3,654 people · home $200,600
Kings Mountain questions
Is Kings Mountain, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kings Mountain scores better for retirees than 26% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 50%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.2).
How much does a house cost in Kings Mountain?
The median owner-occupied home in Kings Mountain is valued at $204,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,564, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $959 a month.
What is the weather like in Kings Mountain?
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 32.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.3 inches of precipitation a year and 2.9 inches of snow.
Does Kings Mountain get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kings Mountain since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on February 6, 2020. 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)