9 cities
| City | Rank | 2025 Pop. ↓ | 2020 Pop. | Annual Change | Density | Area (mi²) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | 1 | 45,429 | 43,688 | 0.77% | 1,424 | 32 | City |
| Newton | 2 | 13,675 | 13,153 | 0.77% | 991 | 14 | City |
| Lake Norman Catawba | 3 | 11,248 | 8,701 | 7.14% | 466 | 24 | CDP |
| Conover | 4 | 8,839 | 8,442 | 0.9% | 774 | 11 | City |
| Westport | 5 | 4,706 | 4,153 | 0.97% | 1,282 | 4 | CDP |
| Maiden | 6 | 3,893 | 3,697 | 1.01% | 586 | 7 | Town |
| Lowesville | 7 | 3,723 | 3,180 | 1.42% | 548 | 7 | CDP |
| Claremont | 8 | 1,767 | 1,695 | 0.8% | 618 | 3 | City |
| Catawba | 9 | 734 | 707 | 0.69% | 158 | 5 | Town |
Hickory is the largest city in Catawba County, with a population of 45,429.
Catawba is the smallest city in Catawba County, with a population of 734.
There are 9 cities in Catawba County, North Carolina.