Bailey, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Bailey, North Carolina had a total population of 422, the 618th largest town in North Carolina, with a median household income of $60,208, which is 17% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 17.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Bailey Quick Facts
How Bailey Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 504 | 422 | -16.3% |
| Median household income | $48,929 | $60,208 | +23.1% |
| Median home value | $124,200 | $155,700 | +25.4% |
How Bailey Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Bailey Rankings in North Carolina
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Other Cities in Nash County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mount | 54,297 | $55,534 | 19.7% | $165,700 |
| Nashville | 5,729 | $61,000 | 16.9% | $205,300 |
| Red Oak | 3,405 | $90,214 | 2.2% | $271,800 |
| Sharpsburg | 1,605 | $54,709 | 19.3% | $121,900 |
| Spring Hope | 1,387 | $38,393 | 11.1% | $161,000 |
| Elm City | 1,292 | $36,150 | 33.7% | $109,300 |
| Dortches | 1,158 | $74,500 | 9.4% | $247,600 |
| Middlesex | 867 | $48,281 | 12.7% | $216,900 |
| Whitakers | 494 | $48,869 | 10.5% | $148,300 |
| Momeyer | 398 | $65,278 | 30.4% | $98,800 |
Cities Similar to Bailey
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruffin | 423 | N/A | N/A | 3.5% | 6.8% |
| Evergreen | 421 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 34.4% |
| Fountain | 409 | N/A | $134,700 | 23.3% | 57.7% |
| Crouse | 408 | N/A | $212,300 | 10.6% | 0.0% |
| Bostic | 433 | $57,813 | $171,900 | 18.8% | 17.8% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 422, Bailey'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
Bailey is a small community located in North Carolina, within Nash County. The total population is 422. It ranks as the 618th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.
Age Demographics
The median age in Bailey is 47.4 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Bailey is $60,208. This is 17% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.8%. This is 36% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 2.5%. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $155,700. Housing costs are 46% lower than the state median of $288,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Bailey is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 58.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% lower than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Bailey is White (non-Hispanic), making up 49.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 26.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (26.3% vs 11.3%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (5.9% vs 3.3%).
Education
14.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 58% 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 76.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Bailey, 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.
Free data download: Get all North Carolina city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Bailey, North Carolina?
Bailey, North Carolina has a population of 422 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Bailey, NC?
The median household income in Bailey is $60,208, which is 25% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Bailey, NC?
The poverty rate in Bailey is 17.8%. This means approximately 75 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Bailey, North Carolina?
Bailey's population is 49.0% White, 17.1% Black, 26.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 5.9% Asian.
What is the median home value in Bailey, NC?
The median home value in Bailey is $155,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.6x.
How educated is Bailey, North Carolina?
14.8% of adults (25+) in Bailey hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.