St. Stephens is a census-designated place (CDP) in Catawba County, North Carolina, United States.

It is bordered on the west by the city of Hickory, on the south by the city of Conover, and on the north by Alexander County, separated from St. Stephens by Lake Hickory on the Catawba River.

The area of the CDP has declined from 10.2 square miles (26.4 km2) at the 2000 census due to annexation by the neighboring cities.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,852 people, 3,609 households, and 2,527 families residing in the CDP.

19.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.