Graham city, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

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

As of 2026, Graham city, North Carolina has a total population of 17,537, the 61st largest city in North Carolina, with a median household income of $54,783, which is 22% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 18.1%.

Graham city Quick Facts

Population 17,537

Median Household Income $54,783

Median Home Value $200,600

Poverty Rate 18.1%

Unemployment Rate 7.9%

Median Age 36.4 years

Homeownership Rate 52.2%

Affordability Ratio 3.7x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 23.5%

High School Graduation Rate 87.0%

Diversity Index 64/100

Population 17,537 61st of 774

Median Income $54,783 average

Poverty Rate 18.1% 46% higher national

Median Home Value $200,600 average

How Graham city Compares

Median Household Income

Graham city

$54,783

$69,904

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Graham city

$200,600

$259,400

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 20.5%

$25K-$50K 23.2%

$50K-$100K 35.2%

$100K+ 21.1%

Employment

7.9% Unemployment Rate State: 4.8% | National: 5.2%

63.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 52.2%

Renter 47.8%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.7x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

20.5%

18-34

26.8%

35-54

22.0%

55-74

23.2%

75+

7.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

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

State average: 57 | National average: 60

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Graham city Rankings in North Carolina

#61 Population of 774

#404 Median Income of 774

#339 Education of 774

#334 Home Value of 774

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

Cities Similar to Graham city

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Morganton city	17,541	$49,434	$208,300	23.0%	29.9%
Hope Mills town	17,823	$60,671	$176,300	23.6%	15.0%
Albemarle city	16,527	$52,825	$186,100	21.5%	22.5%
Lenoir city	18,282	$48,889	$165,200	20.6%	12.9%
Elizabeth City city	18,740	$50,947	$202,100	28.0%	15.0%

Population Overview

Graham city is a small city located in North Carolina. The total population is 17,537. It ranks as the 61st most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Graham city is 36.4 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Graham city is $54,783. This is 22% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 30% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.1%. This is 38% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 7.9%. This is 64% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $200,600. Housing costs are 23% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 52.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Graham city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 51.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 23.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (19.6% vs 10.9%). The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

23.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 32% lower than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Graham city, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Graham city, North Carolina?

Graham city, North Carolina has a population of 17,537 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Graham city, NC?

The median household income in Graham city is $54,783, which is 30% lower the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Graham city, NC?

The poverty rate in Graham city is 18.1%. This means approximately 3,125 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Graham city, North Carolina?

Graham city's population is 51.5% White, 23.5% Black, 19.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.0% Asian.

What is the median home value in Graham city, NC?

The median home value in Graham city is $200,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x.

How educated is Graham city, North Carolina?

23.5% of adults (25+) in Graham city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.