Gates County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
Gates County, North Carolina has a population of 10,376, the 96th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $66,333 and the median home value is $170,800. The poverty rate is 9.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Gates County Quick Facts
How Gates 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 | 10,437 | 10,376 | -0.6% |
| Median household income | $61,612 | $66,333 | +7.7% |
| Median home value | $163,900 | $170,800 | +4.2% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Gates County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gatesville | 320 | $73,611 | 3.1% | $218,100 |
| Sunbury | 251 | $62,902 | 18.3% | N/A |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Gates County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 10,376. It is the 96th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Gates County is 47.6 years. This is 22% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Gates County is $66,333. This is 8% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 18% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.4%. This is 28% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.9%. This is 24% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $170,800. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $288,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Gates County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Gates County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 63.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 31.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (31.0% vs 20.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 11.3%.
Education
10.9% 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 69% 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 90.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Gates 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 Gates County, North Carolina?
Gates County has a population of 10,376, making it the 96th most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in Gates County?
The median household income in Gates County is $66,333 with a poverty rate of 9.4%.
How many cities are in Gates County, North Carolina?
Gates County contains 2 Census-designated places.