9 cities
| City | Rank | 2025 Pop. ↓ | 2020 Pop. | Change | Density | Area (mi²) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | 1 | 44,942 | 43,624 | 0.59% | 1,409 | 31.89 | City |
| Newton | 2 | 13,556 | 13,163 | 0.59% | 983 | 13.80 | City |
| Lake Norman Catawba | 3 | 11,248 | 8,701 | 7.14% | 466 | 24.14 | CDP |
| Conover | 4 | 8,765 | 8,440 | 0.75% | 768 | 11.42 | City |
| Westport | 5 | 4,706 | 4,153 | 0.97% | 1,282 | 3.67 | CDP |
| Maiden | 6 | 3,905 | 3,754 | 0.77% | 587 | 6.65 | Town |
| Lowesville | 7 | 3,723 | 3,180 | 1.42% | 548 | 6.79 | CDP |
| Claremont | 8 | 1,752 | 1,694 | 0.69% | 613 | 2.86 | City |
| Catawba | 9 | 727 | 707 | 0.55% | 157 | 4.64 | Town |
Hickory is the largest city in Catawba County, with a population of 44,942.
Catawba is the smallest city in Catawba County.
There are 9 cities in Catawba County, North Carolina.