Columbus County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Name: Columbus County, North Carolina Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Columbus County, North Carolina has a population of 50,140, the 51st most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $49,442 and the median home value is $146,000. The poverty rate is 18.2%.

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

Columbus County Quick Facts

Population 50,140

Median Household Income $49,442

Median Home Value $146,000

Poverty Rate 18.2%

Unemployment Rate 4.4%

Median Age 42.6 years

Homeownership Rate 71.1%

Affordability Ratio 3.0x

Bachelor's Degree+ 14.6%

High School Graduation 86.8%

Cities/Places 14

Population 50,140 51st of 100

Median Income $49,442 32% lower than state

Poverty Rate 18.2%

Unemployment 4.4%

How Columbus County 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	50,453	50,140	-0.6%
Median household income	$48,184	$49,442	+2.6%
Median home value	$128,300	$146,000	+13.8%

Median Household Income

Columbus

$49,442

$72,388

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Columbus

$146,000

$288,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 27.4%

$25K-$50K 22.8%

$50K-$100K 29.5%

$100K+ 20.3%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

7.5%

$10K-$15K

6.9%

$15K-$20K

4.9%

$20K-$25K

8.1%

$25K-$30K

6.3%

$30K-$35K

4.6%

$35K-$40K

5.1%

$40K-$45K

3.7%

$45K-$50K

3.1%

$50K-$60K

6.7%

$60K-$75K

8.8%

$75K-$100K

14.0%

$100K-$125K

7.4%

$125K-$150K

4.0%

$150K-$200K

5.5%

$200K+

3.3%

Employment

4.4% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

50.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 71.1%

Renter 28.9%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.0x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $824/mo 20.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

20.6%

18-34

21.0%

35-54

23.8%

55-74

25.9%

75+

8.7%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

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

State average: 58 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Columbus County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Whiteville	4,696	$31,167	20.7%	$187,500
Tabor City	3,777	$38,714	32.9%	$115,900
Lake Waccamaw	1,770	$72,500	9.3%	$305,900
Chadbourn	1,352	$45,787	30.6%	$135,400
Brunswick	937	$22,500	64.5%	$82,500
Sandyfield	763	$41,667	29.6%	$69,100
Fair Bluff	695	$31,389	28.3%	$101,400
Riegelwood	649	$49,583	11.3%	$200,300
Bolton	504	$48,450	24.6%	$146,700
Evergreen	421	N/A	34.4%	N/A
Cerro Gordo	319	N/A	25.1%	$189,900
Hallsboro	291	N/A	60.8%	$133,100
Delco	258	$86,721	0.0%	N/A
Boardman	210	$59,750	17.1%	N/A

Explore North Carolina Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Columbus County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 50,140. It is the 51st most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 14 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Columbus County is 42.6 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Columbus County is $49,442. This is 32% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.2%. This is 40% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 7% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $146,000. Housing costs are 49% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 71.1% 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 Columbus County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 58.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 28.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.7%) is well below the state average of 11.3%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

14.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 59% 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 86.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Columbus 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 Columbus County, North Carolina?

Columbus County has a population of 50,140, making it the 51st most populous county in North Carolina.

What is the median income in Columbus County?

The median household income in Columbus County is $49,442 with a poverty rate of 18.2%.

How many cities are in Columbus County, North Carolina?

Columbus County contains 14 Census-designated places.