Castle Hayne, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 897, Castle Hayne'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

Castle Hayne is a small community located in North Carolina, within New Hanover County. The total population is 897. It ranks as the 486th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Castle Hayne is 59.0 years. This is 51% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 15.4% 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 Castle Hayne is $53,056. This is 27% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 34% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 25.5%. This is 96% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Castle Hayne, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $377,900. Housing costs are 31% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 80.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Castle Hayne is White (non-Hispanic), making up 68.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 24.8%. The Black or African American population (7.1%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (24.8% vs 11.3%).

Education

38.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 8% 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 91.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Castle Hayne, 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.