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Cabarrus County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Cabarrus County, North Carolina has a population of 236,133, the 9th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $89,005 and the median home value is $354,800. The poverty rate is 9.3%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Cabarrus County Quick Facts

Population 236,133
Median Household Income $89,005
Median Home Value $354,800
Poverty Rate 9.3%
Unemployment Rate 4.6%
Median Age 37.7 years
Homeownership Rate 71.2%
Affordability Ratio 4.0x
Bachelor's Degree+ 37.9%
High School Graduation 92.1%
Cities/Places 5
Population 236,133 9th of 100
Median Income $89,005 23% higher than state
Poverty Rate 9.3%
Unemployment 4.6%

How Cabarrus County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population231,262236,133+2.1%
Median household income$86,084$89,005+3.4%
Median home value$318,600$354,800+11.4%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 11.7%
$25K-$50K 14.7%
$50K-$100K 29.8%
$100K+ 43.8%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
4.2%
$10K-$15K
2.0%
$15K-$20K
2.8%
$20K-$25K
2.7%
$25K-$30K
2.3%
$30K-$35K
3.5%
$35K-$40K
2.6%
$40K-$45K
3.4%
$45K-$50K
3.0%
$50K-$60K
6.8%
$60K-$75K
9.0%
$75K-$100K
13.9%
$100K-$125K
10.7%
$125K-$150K
8.0%
$150K-$200K
10.5%
$200K+
14.6%

Employment

4.6% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%
68.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 71.2%
Renter 28.8%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.0x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,414/mo 19.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

61out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 58 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Cabarrus County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Concord108,719$86,9219.6%$353,700
Kannapolis57,890$73,83612.6%$276,400
Harrisburg19,633$148,2543.8%$478,000
Locust5,840$76,5048.7%$322,100
Mount Pleasant2,230$90,7956.6%$306,500

Population Overview

Cabarrus County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 236,133. It is the 9th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cabarrus County is 37.7 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cabarrus County is $89,005. This is 23% higher than the state median of $72,388. It is also 10% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.3%. This is 29% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. This is 2% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $354,800. Housing costs are 23% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 71.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cabarrus County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 57.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 18.7%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (6.2% vs 3.3%).

Education

37.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 6% higher 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 92.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Cabarrus County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against North Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Cabarrus County, North Carolina?

Cabarrus County has a population of 236,133, making it the 9th most populous county in North Carolina.

What is the median income in Cabarrus County?

The median household income in Cabarrus County is $89,005 with a poverty rate of 9.3%.

How many cities are in Cabarrus County, North Carolina?

Cabarrus County contains 5 Census-designated places.