Fair Bluff, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 695, Fair Bluff'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

Fair Bluff is a small community located in North Carolina, within Columbus County. The total population is 695. It ranks as the 529th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Fair Bluff is 45.8 years. This is 17% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 10.8% 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 Fair Bluff is $31,389. This is 57% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 61% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 28.3%. This is 117% 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 4.2%. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $101,400. Housing costs are 65% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 69.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Fair Bluff is Black or African American, making up 62.6% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 19.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (19.6%) is well below the state average of 60.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (62.6% vs 20.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 11.3%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (11.2% vs 3.3%).

Education

8.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 75% 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 77.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Fair Bluff, 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.