Skip to main content

Greene County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Greene County, North Carolina has a population of 20,486, the 79th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $53,244 and the median home value is $117,400. The poverty rate is 21.1%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Greene County Quick Facts

Population 20,486
Median Household Income $53,244
Median Home Value $117,400
Poverty Rate 21.1%
Unemployment Rate 5.7%
Median Age 39.9 years
Homeownership Rate 66.5%
Affordability Ratio 2.2x
Bachelor's Degree+ 12.2%
High School Graduation 79.0%
Cities/Places 4
Population 20,486 79th of 100
Median Income $53,244 26% lower than state
Poverty Rate 21.1%
Unemployment 5.7%

How Greene County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population20,42120,486+0.3%
Median household income$50,904$53,244+4.6%
Median home value$114,000$117,400+3.0%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 20.8%
$25K-$50K 26.4%
$50K-$100K 35.4%
$100K+ 17.5%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
7.0%
$10K-$15K
5.3%
$15K-$20K
3.3%
$20K-$25K
5.2%
$25K-$30K
4.7%
$30K-$35K
4.3%
$35K-$40K
4.1%
$40K-$45K
6.4%
$45K-$50K
6.8%
$50K-$60K
11.0%
$60K-$75K
13.6%
$75K-$100K
10.8%
$100K-$125K
6.9%
$125K-$150K
5.1%
$150K-$200K
4.0%
$200K+
1.5%

Employment

5.7% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%
51.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 66.5%
Renter 33.5%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.2x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $853/mo 19.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

67out of 100
High Diversity

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

State average: 58 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Greene County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Snow Hill2,438$31,62940.2%$135,700
Maury1,339N/A54.7%N/A
Hookerton573$34,50032.5%$78,400
Walstonburg313$42,50011.8%$95,000

Population Overview

Greene County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 20,486. It is the 79th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Greene County is 39.9 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Greene County is $53,244. This is 26% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 34% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.1%. This is 62% 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 5.7%. This is 20% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $117,400. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $288,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Greene County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 66.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Greene County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 45.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 31.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (31.5% vs 20.0%). The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

12.2% 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 66% 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 79.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Greene 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 Greene County, North Carolina?

Greene County has a population of 20,486, making it the 79th most populous county in North Carolina.

What is the median income in Greene County?

The median household income in Greene County is $53,244 with a poverty rate of 21.1%.

How many cities are in Greene County, North Carolina?

Greene County contains 4 Census-designated places.