Skip to main content

North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, North Carolina had a total population of 10,730,404, with a median household income of $72,388, which is 10% lower than the national average. The poverty rate is 13.0%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

North Carolina Quick Facts

Population 10,730,404
Median Household Income $72,388
Median Home Value $288,900
Poverty Rate 13.0%
Unemployment Rate 4.7%
Median Age 39.1 years
Homeownership Rate 66.6%
Affordability Ratio 4.0x
Bachelor's Degree+ 35.6%
High School Graduation 90.1%
Counties 100
Cities/Places 772
Population 10,730,404
Median Income $72,388 10% lower than national
Poverty Rate 13.0%
Unemployment 4.7%

How North Carolina Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population10,584,34010,730,404+1.4%
Median household income$69,904$72,388+3.6%
Median home value$259,400$288,900+11.4%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.8%
$25K-$50K 19.1%
$50K-$100K 29.8%
$100K+ 35.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.0%
$10K-$15K
3.7%
$15K-$20K
3.5%
$20K-$25K
3.6%
$25K-$30K
3.6%
$30K-$35K
3.8%
$35K-$40K
4.0%
$40K-$45K
3.9%
$45K-$50K
3.8%
$50K-$60K
7.1%
$60K-$75K
9.6%
$75K-$100K
13.0%
$100K-$125K
9.8%
$125K-$150K
6.9%
$150K-$200K
8.3%
$200K+
10.4%

Employment

4.7% Unemployment Rate National: 5.2%
62.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 66.6%
Renter 33.4%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.0x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,228/mo 20.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

58out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 58 | National average: 61

Education

Largest Cities in North Carolina

#CityPopulationMedian IncomePoverty
1Charlotte903,844$82,06811.7%
2Raleigh481,031$85,39511.9%
3Greensboro301,198$61,51517.0%
4Durham291,467$81,61911.7%
5Winston-Salem252,037$59,26817.7%
6Fayetteville210,815$58,40717.7%
7Cary179,306$134,9055.7%
8Wilmington120,805$66,73816.0%
9High Point116,245$64,56115.7%
10Concord108,719$86,9219.6%

Richest Cities in North Carolina

#CityMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+
1Marvin$250,000+$906,00079.9%
2Governors Club$235,625$889,50079.4%
3Weddington$190,766$824,10068.0%
4Lake Norman of Iredell$173,542$887,40067.3%
5Biltmore Forest$169,167$1,333,30087.4%
6Davidson$166,556$687,70075.8%
7Walnut Creek$166,250$468,70068.2%
8Briar Chapel$166,063$570,30081.6%
9Summerfield$160,275$521,90059.5%
10Oak Ridge$155,385$529,30057.0%

Most Affordable Cities in North Carolina

By home-value-to-income ratio (lower = more affordable). Min. population 1,000.

#CityRatioHome ValueIncome
1La Grange1.7x$83,800$48,078
2South Rosemary1.8x$86,800$47,466
3Robbins1.9x$99,100$53,438
4Bladenboro1.9x$99,500$52,337
5Bethel2.0x$107,800$52,961
6Stedman2.0x$218,800$107,250
7Warsaw2.1x$112,500$54,297
8Kenansville2.1x$127,400$61,364
9Weldon2.1x$100,500$48,350
10Emma2.1x$92,300$43,907

Explore North Carolina Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

All Counties in North Carolina (100)

100 results
Wake County1,178,653$105,7688.1%$461,300
Mecklenburg County1,154,681$87,00510.4%$406,800
Guilford County547,940$68,64214.6%$259,900
Forsyth County389,977$67,16514.5%$250,400
Cumberland County338,545$61,29116.7%$199,200
Durham County332,353$82,31611.5%$389,400
Buncombe County274,360$74,43611.8%$391,800
Union County250,958$102,9007.7%$417,300
Cabarrus County236,133$89,0059.3%$354,800
New Hanover County235,229$75,16612.3%$387,800
Gaston County234,881$67,47813.5%$266,000
Johnston County234,263$83,38410.6%$305,600
Onslow County207,906$68,14811.6%$236,400
Iredell County196,544$81,41910.0%$321,400
Pitt County177,193$58,18819.8%$208,900
Alamance County176,893$65,65113.4%$241,500
Davidson County172,954$64,17212.8%$219,100
Catawba County163,573$67,86412.7%$241,600
Brunswick County152,568$77,0249.2%$349,800
Rowan County149,875$65,72516.0%$238,400
Orange County149,678$90,08912.5%$459,500
Randolph County146,348$61,02214.5%$197,100
Harnett County139,150$71,28713.8%$246,200
Wayne County118,652$59,73317.3%$178,700
Henderson County118,484$68,18711.6%$351,400
Page 1 of 4

All Cities & Places in North Carolina (772)

772 results
Charlotte903,844$82,06811.7%$385,700
Raleigh481,031$85,39511.9%$415,800
Greensboro301,198$61,51517.0%$244,800
Durham291,467$81,61911.7%$392,800
Winston-Salem252,037$59,26817.7%$233,800
Fayetteville210,815$58,40717.7%$188,000
Cary179,306$134,9055.7%$580,200
Wilmington120,805$66,73816.0%$383,800
High Point116,245$64,56115.7%$235,800
Concord108,719$86,9219.6%$353,700
Asheville94,535$71,10214.2%$440,000
Greenville92,857$49,74824.6%$233,500
Gastonia82,884$64,05916.3%$277,600
Jacksonville71,279$57,69712.7%$210,100
Apex70,630$144,1352.3%$576,100
Huntersville63,969$120,5163.1%$472,900
Chapel Hill61,607$85,98918.6%$613,700
Burlington59,610$56,88016.4%$199,200
Kannapolis57,890$73,83612.6%$276,400
Rocky Mount54,297$55,53419.7%$165,700
Wake Forest52,844$123,8024.5%$474,500
Mooresville52,381$89,6477.3%$390,900
Wilson48,370$52,48523.0%$210,700
Holly Springs45,248$135,5784.8%$535,800
Hickory44,258$64,57617.1%$278,400
Page 1 of 31

Download North Carolina Data

Free CSV downloads of North Carolina demographic data — no account or payment required. Files use official Census place names (e.g. "Springfield city", "Oakdale CDP"), so they match Census Bureau sources exactly.

📊
Cities Data (CSV) All cities: population, income, housing, race, education
📋
Counties Data (CSV) All counties: population, income, housing, race, education

Population Overview

North Carolina has a total population of 10,730,404, making it one of the most populous states in the nation. The median age is 39.1 years, about the same as the national median of 38.9 years.

Age Demographics

The median age in North Carolina is 39.1 years. This is about the same as the national median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in North Carolina is $72,388. This is 10% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.0%. This is 5% higher than the national poverty rate of 12.4%. The unemployment rate is 4.7%. This is 10% lower than the national rate of 5.2%. The median home value is $288,900. Housing costs are 13% lower than the national median of $332,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 66.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the national average of 65.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in North Carolina is White (non-Hispanic), making up 60.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 20.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the national average (20.0% vs 11.9%).

Education

35.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is about the same as the national rate of 35.7%. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for North Carolina come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of North Carolina?

North Carolina has a total population of 10,730,404 according to the U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median income in North Carolina?

The median household income in North Carolina is $72,388, which is 10% lower than the national median of $80,734.

How many cities are in North Carolina?

North Carolina has 772 Census-designated places (cities, towns, and CDPs) and 100 counties.

What is the poverty rate in North Carolina?

The poverty rate in North Carolina is 13.0%, compared to the national average of 12.4%.

What is the largest city in North Carolina?

The largest city in North Carolina is Charlotte with a population of 903,844.