Known as the “Biggest Little Town in the Foothills,” Sawmills focuses on community spirit and a family-friendly atmosphere. In Sawmills, businesses thrive, and family comes first: several events are scheduled in Baird Drive Park throughout the year to help small businesses grow, and families spend time together.
The town has Caldwell County’s second-largest population and is among the largest in land area. This close-knit community is home to the county’s largest public school, South Caldwell High School, and many lakeside residential lots.
| Population | 2000 | 2010 | 2026 | 2031 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town of Sawmills | 4,926 | 5,311 | 4,925 | 4,876 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
| Population | 2026 |
|---|---|
| 0-4 | 249 |
| 5-9 | 278 |
| 10-14 | 273 |
| 15-19 | 256 |
| 20-24 | 225 |
| 25-29 | 351 |
| 30-34 | 346 |
| 35-39 | 297 |
| 40-44 | 284 |
| 45-49 | 301 |
| 50-54 | 383 |
| 55-59 | 335 |
| 60-64 | 335 |
| 65-69 | 285 |
| 70-74 | 251 |
| 75-79 | 234 |
| 80-84 | 130 |
| 85+ | 112 |
| 18+ | 3,965 |
| Median Age | 43 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
| Town of Sawmills | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Total | 4,925.00 |
| White Alone | 86.76% |
| Black Alone | 1.89% |
| American Indian Alone | 0.37% |
| Asian Alone | 0.45% |
| Pacific Islander Alone | 0% |
| Some Other Race | 4.06% |
| Two or More Races | 6.48% |
| Hispanic Origin | 7.37% |
| Diversity Index | 34.50 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
Back To Top| Population | 2000 | 2010 | 2026 | 2031 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households | 1,947 | 2,095 | 2,119 | 2,139 |
| Housing Units | 2,052 | 2,297 | 2,294 | 2,318 |
| Owner Occupied Units | 1,333 | 1,387 | ||
| Renter Occupied Units | 786 | 752 | ||
| Vacant Units | 175 | 179 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
| Town of Sawmills | 2026 | 2031 |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $252,425 | $339,168 |
| Average Home Value | $251,060 | $378,964 |
| <$50,000 | 82 | 17 |
| $50,000 - $99,999 | 79 | 12 |
| $100,000 - $149,999 | 128 | 15 |
| $150,000 - $199,999 | 136 | 34 |
| $200,000 - $249,999 | 227 | 172 |
| $250,000 - $299,999 | 299 | 241 |
| $300,000 - $399,999 | 272 | 517 |
| $400,000 - $499,999 | 72 | 191 |
| $500,000 - $749,999 | 33 | 135 |
| $1,000,000 + | 4 | 37 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
| Year Range | Houses Built |
|---|---|
| 2010 or Later | 64 |
| 2000-2009 | 163 |
| 1990-1999 | 953 |
| 1980-1989 | 326 |
| 1970-1979 | 146 |
| 1960-1969 | 545 |
| 1950-1959 | 130 |
| 1940-1949 | 31 |
| 1939 or Before | 12 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
Back To Top| Town of Sawmills | 2026 | 2031 |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household | $70,476 | $82,708 |
| Average Household | $81,028 | $90,516 |
| Per Capita | $34,863 | $39,708 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
| Town of Sawmills | 2026 |
|---|---|
| <$15,000 | 253 |
| $15,000 - $24,999 | 215 |
| $25,000 - $34,999 | 107 |
| $35,000 - $49,999 | 144 |
| $50,000 - $74,999 | 398 |
| $75,000 - $99,999 | 220 |
| $100,000 - $149,999 | 565 |
| $150,000 - $199,999 | 181 |
| $200,000+ | 36 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
Back To Top| Category | Commuters |
|---|---|
| Workers 16+ | 2,392 |
| In-County Residents | 1,262 |
| Out-of-County Residents | 1,115 |
| Drive Alone | 2,016 |
| Carpooled | 197 |
| Public Transport | 0 |
| Work at Home | 114 |
| Motorcycle | 0 |
| Bicycle | 0 |
| Walked | 0 |
| Other | 65 |
| Less than 5 minutes | 62 |
| 5-9 minutes | 158 |
| 10-14 minutes | 264 |
| 15-19 minutes | 372 |
| 20-24 minutes | 538 |
| 25-29 minutes | 424 |
| 30-34 minutes | 249 |
| 35-39 minutes | 43 |
| 40-44 minutes | 4 |
| 45-59 minutes | 42 |
| 60-89 minutes | 81 |
| 90+ minutes | 41 |
| Average Travel Time | 23 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Total Employees | 605 |
| Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt | 0 |
| Mining | 0 |
| Utilities | 0 |
| Construction | 28 |
| Manufacturing | 180 |
| Wholesale Trade | 35 |
| Retail Trade | 109 |
| Motor Veh/Parts Dealers | 13 |
| Furn & Home Furnish Str | 2 |
| Electronics & Appl Store | 0 |
| Bldg Matl/Garden Equip | 33 |
| Food & Beverage Stores | 12 |
| Health/Pers Care Stores | 14 |
| Gasoline Stations | 10 |
| Clothing/Accessory Store | 17 |
| Sports/Hobby/Book/Music | 0 |
| General Merchandise Str | 8 |
| Transportation/Warehouse | 17 |
| Information | 6 |
| Finance & Insurance | 4 |
| Cntrl Bank/Crdt Intrmdtn | 0 |
| Sec/Cmdty Cntrct/Oth Inv | 0 |
| Insur/Funds/Trusts/Other | 4 |
| Real Estate/Rent/Leasing | 38 |
| Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv | 14 |
| Legal Services | 0 |
| Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises | 0 |
| Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt | 16 |
| Educational Services | 57 |
| HealthCare/Social Assist | 13 |
| Arts/Entertainment/Rec | 5 |
| Accommodation/Food Srvcs | 11 |
| Accommodation | 0 |
| Food Srv/Drinking Places | 11 |
| Other Srv excl Pub Admin | 50 |
| Auto Repair/Maintenance | 23 |
| Public Administration Emp | 22 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
| Town of Sawmills | 2026 |
|---|---|
| <9th Grade | 226 |
| Some High School | 286 |
| GED | 165 |
| Graduated High School | 1,271 |
| Some College/No Degree | 817 |
| Associates Degree | 420 |
| Bachelor's Degree | 300 |
| Graduate Degree | 159 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
Back To Top| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Total Businesses | 80 |
| Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt Bus | 0 |
| Mining Bus | 0 |
| Utilities Bus | 0 |
| Construction Bus | 3 |
| Manufacturing Bus | 9 |
| Wholesale Trade Bus | 3 |
| Retail Trade Bus | 18 |
| Motor Veh/Parts Dealers Bus | 2 |
| Furn & Home Furnish Str Bus | 1 |
| Electronics & Appl Store Bus | 0 |
| Bldg Matl/Garden Equip Bus | 3 |
| Food & Beverage Stores Bus | 3 |
| Health/Pers Care Stores Bus | 2 |
| Gasoline Stations Bus | 2 |
| Clothing/Accessory Store Bus | 3 |
| Sports/Hobby/Book/Music Bus | 0 |
| General Merchandise Str Bus | 2 |
| Transportation/Warehouse Bus | 5 |
| Information Bus | 2 |
| Finance & Insurance Bus | 1 |
| Cntrl Bank/Crdt Intrmdtn Bus | 0 |
| Sec/Cmdty Cntrct/Oth Inv Bus | 0 |
| Insur/Funds/Trusts/Other Bus | 1 |
| Real Estate/Rent/Leasing Bus | 4 |
| Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv Bus | 5 |
| Legal Services Bus | 0 |
| Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises Bus | 0 |
| Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt Bus | 4 |
| Educational Services Bus | 1 |
| HealthCare/Social Assist Bus | 2 |
| Arts/Entertainment/Rec Bus | 2 |
| Accommodation/Food Srvcs Bus | 2 |
| Accommodation Bus | 0 |
| Food Srv/Drinking Places Bus | 2 |
| Other Srv excl Pub Admin Bus | 14 |
| Auto Repair/Maintenance Bus | 4 |
| Public Administration Bus | 4 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
Back To Top
Caldwell County ranked 20th out of North Carolina’s 100 counties for wage growth in 2023. Since 2015, wages have grown an impressive 51.5%.
The Blue Ridge foothills, Pisgah National Forest and Wilson Creek are our playgrounds for biking, off-roading, watersports, hiking, hunting, fishing and camping.
CCED works closely with CCC&TI and local manufacturers to meet the workforce needs of employers.
Record numbers of new businesses and industries have registered in Caldwell: 250-500 each year since 2018. The CCC&TI Business Center is ready to assist.
Explore scenic vistas, historical sites, art, breweries, wineries, eateries and more along this world famous route.
Explore the Caldwell County Itinerary for food, shopping, highlights, lodging and adventures! We invite locals and visitors to delight in the journey and the destination.
Whether we’re celebrating art, butterflies, blackberries, BBQ or wine, the calendar is full of Southern charm.
Move right into one of our existing manufacturing buildings. The infrastructure is in place and a trained workforce is ready.
Powered by an economy that has hit its stride and turbocharged by a track record of innovation, Caldwell County is the best of NC.
Caldwell County is building on its historic manufacturing legacy while embracing the industries of tomorrow. With affordability, a strategic location, and a skilled workforce, the county is a prime destination for business growth and investment.
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Caldwell County has the most extensive collection of permanent public outdoor sculptures per capita in the U.S. Our annual Sculpture Celebration is the largest in the South.
NC has increased production of renewables by nearly 52%, double the average of all 50 states
Life in Caldwell County can be full of adventure. Spend the day exploring parks, mountains, whitewater rafting, kayaking, hiking and biking.
