Clarkton, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 740, Clarkton'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

Clarkton is a small community located in North Carolina, within Bladen County. The total population is 740. It ranks as the 518th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clarkton is 40.3 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. With 32.0% of the population under 18, Clarkton has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 14.9% 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 Clarkton is $27,292. This is 62% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 66% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 50.1%. This is 285% 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 unemployment rate is 10.2%. This is 117% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $140,100. Housing costs are 52% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.1x. 66.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Clarkton is Black or African American, making up 52.4% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 37.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (52.4% vs 20.0%).

Education

11.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 68% 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 84.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Clarkton, 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.