Glenwood, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 226, Glenwood'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

Glenwood is a small community located in North Carolina, within McDowell County. The total population is 226. It ranks as the 691st most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Glenwood is 46.3 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 9.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Glenwood is $120,694. This is 67% higher than the state median of $72,388. It is also 49% higher than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Glenwood. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The survey records no unemployed residents in Glenwood, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 50% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Glenwood is Black or African American, making up 56.2% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 43.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (56.2% vs 20.0%).

Education

58.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Glenwood in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 65% higher 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 68.9%. Notably, 15.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Glenwood, 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.