China Grove, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, China Grove, North Carolina had a total population of 4,530, the 188th largest town in North Carolina, with a median household income of $54,083, which is 25% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 17.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
China Grove Quick Facts
How China Grove 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 | 4,487 | 4,530 | +1.0% |
| Median household income | $53,717 | $54,083 | +0.7% |
| Median home value | $207,500 | $225,800 | +8.8% |
How China Grove 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
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
China Grove Rankings in North Carolina
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Other Cities in Rowan County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salisbury | 35,825 | $53,716 | 26.3% | $242,500 |
| Landis | 3,765 | $75,000 | 6.9% | $252,100 |
| Spencer | 3,349 | $65,465 | 11.2% | $201,700 |
| Enochville | 3,321 | $66,225 | 18.6% | $265,700 |
| Granite Quarry | 3,043 | $57,981 | 8.3% | $257,300 |
| Rockwell | 2,782 | $69,632 | 7.0% | $237,200 |
| East Spencer | 1,434 | $34,417 | 26.7% | $112,000 |
| Cleveland | 1,080 | $58,750 | 17.2% | $242,600 |
| Faith | 917 | $139,844 | 3.4% | $264,000 |
| Gold Hill | 914 | $73,187 | 12.4% | $279,600 |
Cities Similar to China Grove
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randleman | 4,644 | $53,456 | $184,700 | 14.0% | 32.6% |
| Newport | 4,441 | $56,351 | $233,600 | 18.9% | 10.7% |
| Beaufort | 4,689 | $53,321 | $354,900 | 40.2% | 11.2% |
| Erwin | 4,687 | $50,701 | $161,100 | 17.3% | 12.2% |
| Farmville | 4,514 | $47,410 | $183,000 | 31.8% | 28.1% |
Population Overview
China Grove is a small community located in North Carolina, within Rowan County. The total population is 4,530. It ranks as the 188th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.
Age Demographics
The median age in China Grove is 39.2 years. This is about the same as the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in China Grove is $54,083. This is 25% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 33% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.2%. This is 32% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.0%. This is 28% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $225,800. Housing costs are 22% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 65.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in China Grove is White (non-Hispanic), making up 72.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 22.4%. The Black or African American population (3.5%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (22.4% vs 11.3%).
Education
12.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 66% 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 82.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for China Grove, 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 China Grove, North Carolina?
China Grove, North Carolina has a population of 4,530 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in China Grove, NC?
The median household income in China Grove is $54,083, which is 33% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in China Grove, NC?
The poverty rate in China Grove is 17.2%. This means approximately 774 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of China Grove, North Carolina?
China Grove's population is 72.9% White, 3.5% Black, 22.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in China Grove, NC?
The median home value in China Grove is $225,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x.
How educated is China Grove, North Carolina?
12.3% of adults (25+) in China Grove hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.