Harrells, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 175, Harrells'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

Harrells is a small community located in North Carolina, within Sampson County. The total population is 175. It ranks as the 717th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Harrells is 38.1 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 39.1 years. With 28.6% of the population under 18, Harrells has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 10.9% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Harrells is $43,750. This is 40% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 46% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 40.6%. This is 211% 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 4.8%. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $175,000. Housing costs are 39% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 81.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Harrells is White (non-Hispanic), making up 53.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 27.4%.

Education

16.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 54% 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 77.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Harrells, 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.