Garland, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 704, Garland'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

Garland is a small community located in North Carolina, within Sampson County. The total population is 704. It ranks as the 525th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Garland is 24.7 years. This is 37% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Garland is $57,829. This is 20% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 28% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.1%. This is 30% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. This is 3% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $123,900. Housing costs are 57% lower than the state median of $288,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Garland is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 62.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% lower than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Garland is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Black or African American residents account for 39.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (20.4%) is well below the state average of 60.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (39.2% vs 20.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (40.3% vs 11.3%).

Education

7.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 78% 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 87.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Garland, 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.