Atkinson, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 485, Atkinson's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Atkinson is a small community located in North Carolina, within Pender County. The total population is 485. It ranks as the 596th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Atkinson is 31.3 years. This is 20% lower than the state median of 39.1 years. With 39.0% of the population under 18, Atkinson has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Atkinson is $59,886. This is 17% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 26% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.6%. This is 4% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Atkinson, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $155,100. Housing costs are 46% lower than the state median of $288,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Atkinson is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 89.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 34% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Atkinson is White (non-Hispanic), making up 49.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 36.1%. The Black or African American population (8.3%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (36.1% vs 11.3%). The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

12.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 66% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Atkinson, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.