Bostic, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 433, Bostic'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

Bostic is a small community located in North Carolina, within Rutherford County. The total population is 433. It ranks as the 612th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bostic is 38.7 years. This is 1% lower than the state median of 39.1 years. With 28.2% of the population under 18, Bostic has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 10.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bostic is $57,813. This is 20% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 28% 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 3.5%. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $171,900. Housing costs are 40% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 68.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Bostic has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.1% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 5.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (90.1% vs 60.0%). The Black or African American population (5.5%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

18.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 47% 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 83.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bostic, 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.