Clinton city, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Clinton city is a small city located in North Carolina. The total population is 8,336. It ranks as the 114th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clinton city is 39.9 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 10.0% 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 Clinton city is $42,344. This is 39% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 46% lower. The poverty rate stands at 23.6%. This is 79% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. 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 5.6%. This is 15% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $185,600. Housing costs are 28% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.4x. 46.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Clinton city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 31.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (40.7% vs 20.3%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (23.2% vs 10.9%).

Education

22.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 36% lower than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Clinton city, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.