Harnett County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
Harnett County, North Carolina has a population of 139,150, the 23rd most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $71,287 and the median home value is $246,200. The poverty rate is 13.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Harnett County Quick Facts
How Harnett 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 | 136,503 | 139,150 | +1.9% |
| Median household income | $69,012 | $71,287 | +3.3% |
| Median home value | $220,700 | $246,200 | +11.6% |
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
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Harnett County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson Creek | 13,927 | $87,287 | 14.6% | $282,200 |
| Spout Springs | 11,242 | $92,402 | 4.2% | $358,500 |
| Dunn | 8,559 | $46,830 | 19.7% | $193,900 |
| Lillington | 4,709 | $81,760 | 4.9% | $247,200 |
| Erwin | 4,687 | $50,701 | 12.2% | $161,100 |
| Buies Creek | 3,746 | $53,933 | 40.7% | $361,500 |
| Coats | 1,664 | $37,009 | 21.6% | $125,200 |
| Broadway | 1,657 | $64,926 | 20.5% | $254,500 |
| Bunnlevel | 844 | $74,818 | 0.0% | $189,100 |
| Mamers | 669 | $33,561 | 2.5% | $118,500 |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Harnett County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 139,150. It is the 23rd most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Harnett County is 35.6 years. This is 9% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Harnett County is $71,287. This is 2% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 12% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.8%. This is 6% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.7%. The median home value is $246,200. Housing costs are 15% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 71.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Harnett County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 58.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 19.8%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.
Education
24.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% 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 88.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Harnett 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 Harnett County, North Carolina?
Harnett County has a population of 139,150, making it the 23rd most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in Harnett County?
The median household income in Harnett County is $71,287 with a poverty rate of 13.8%.
How many cities are in Harnett County, North Carolina?
Harnett County contains 10 Census-designated places.