Bertie County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Bertie County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 17,482. It is the 85th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bertie County is 45.9 years. This is 17% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bertie County is $45,931. This is 34% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 42% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.8%. This is 50% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 8.3%. This is 73% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $95,800. Housing costs are 63% lower than the state median of $259,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Bertie County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Bertie County is Black or African American, making up 60.0% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 34.3%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (60.0% vs 20.3%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

17.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 49% lower than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.0%.