St. Stephens: Demographics & People
9,457 people call St. Stephens home, in 3,969 households. Population grew 0.5% from 9,409 (2022) to 9,457 (2024). Median age 43.2 years. (1.1y older than Catawba County; 3.7y older than North Carolina). Children under 18 are 23% of the population. Population is 65% White (non-Hispanic) and 17% Hispanic or Latino. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.42). 75% of households are family-led. County is gaining 5,610 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 34% adult obesity, 17% smoke.
- 2.4 people per household.
- 25% non-family households (singles, roommates).
Population & Trend
Population grew 0.5% from 9,409 (2022) to 9,457 (2024) — close to the U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~9,505 (extrapolated at 0.3%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 9,569.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 160,610 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 0.5% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 9,409 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 9,457 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 9,457 people |
| Population Estimate | 9,569 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 43.2y is 4.3 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 23% — near the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 43.2 years (vs North Carolina 39.5y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 22.9% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Population under 18 | 2,166 |
| Median age | 43.2 years (vs North Carolina 39.5y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 9,457 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.42 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 6,605 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 406 |
| Asian residents | 475 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 1,474 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 42.5% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 73.7% |
| Asian population | 4.9% |
| Black population | 4.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 16.7% |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 65.4% |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.9% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 11% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 6,531 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 1,798 |
| Share born in this state | 69.1% |
| Share born in another state | 30.9% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 19.0% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.9% |
| Naturalized citizens | 11.1% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 1,154 |
| From Europe | 12 |
| From Africa | 468 |
Households & Family Composition
3,969 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 75% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 2,756 families, 29% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 2,085 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 2,756 |
| Married couples with children | 804 |
| Single-parent households | 76 |
| Average household size | 2.40 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 10.9% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 90 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 36 |
| Family households | 2,966 households |
| Households that are families | 74.7% |
| Total households | 3,969 households |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 2.4% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 5,610 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 2.4% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 153,898 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 148,288 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 5,610 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 592 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 6.2% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 1 residents live in group quarters (0.0% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 1 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 10 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | NC-10 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 37,035 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 37 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 35 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Catawba |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 18.0% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 16.20 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 19.90 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 37,035 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Catawba County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Medium metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 8,193 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 37,035 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Catawba County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 79.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 60.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 29.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 159,551 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 20 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 22.9% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 9,457, stable, established, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 9,457 people |
| Town Summary · County | Catawba County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade