Aurora, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 560, Aurora'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

Aurora is a small community located in North Carolina, within Beaufort County. The total population is 560. It ranks as the 565th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Aurora is 42.5 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. With 29.1% of the population under 18, Aurora has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Aurora is $46,131. This is 36% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 43% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.2%. This is 101% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 18.2%. This is 286% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $87,300. Housing costs are 70% lower than the state median of $288,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Aurora is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 63.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Aurora is White (non-Hispanic), making up 54.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 35.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (35.9% vs 20.0%).

Education

14.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 59% 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 86.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Aurora, 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.