Henderson County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
Henderson County, North Carolina has a population of 118,484, the 25th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $68,187 and the median home value is $351,400. The poverty rate is 11.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Henderson County Quick Facts
How Henderson 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 | 117,387 | 118,484 | +0.9% |
| Median household income | $67,623 | $68,187 | +0.8% |
| Median home value | $317,800 | $351,400 | +10.6% |
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 less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Henderson County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hendersonville | 15,408 | $53,449 | 14.5% | $317,000 |
| Fletcher | 8,098 | $75,272 | 7.6% | $331,100 |
| Etowah | 7,968 | $72,596 | 14.4% | $338,100 |
| Mills River | 7,281 | $105,398 | 2.6% | $436,100 |
| East Flat Rock | 6,323 | $59,583 | 12.6% | $245,900 |
| Dana | 4,147 | $60,450 | 24.7% | $249,700 |
| Flat Rock | 3,530 | $95,098 | 7.6% | $601,700 |
| Mountain Home | 3,437 | $83,083 | 11.9% | $400,000 |
| Edneyville | 2,716 | $53,818 | 22.3% | $286,400 |
| Valley Hill | 2,675 | $86,599 | 7.9% | $353,100 |
| Laurel Park | 2,408 | $90,000 | 5.5% | $433,100 |
| Fruitland | 2,398 | $48,025 | 15.6% | $133,100 |
| Hoopers Creek | 1,683 | $52,315 | 18.4% | $345,900 |
| Horse Shoe | 1,490 | $64,096 | 4.5% | $407,500 |
| Balfour | 1,134 | $70,116 | 5.6% | $292,600 |
| Barker Heights | 1,074 | $29,277 | 49.7% | $190,300 |
| Saluda | 683 | $52,137 | 13.2% | $372,400 |
| Gerton | 110 | N/A | 21.8% | $414,800 |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Henderson County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 118,484. It is the 25th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 18 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Henderson County is 47.5 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 11.5% 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 Henderson County is $68,187. This is 6% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 16% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.6%. This is 11% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.5%. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $351,400. Housing costs are 22% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.2x. 75.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Henderson County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 13.1%. The Black or African American population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.
Education
36.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 2% 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 91.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Henderson 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 Henderson County, North Carolina?
Henderson County has a population of 118,484, making it the 25th most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in Henderson County?
The median household income in Henderson County is $68,187 with a poverty rate of 11.6%.
How many cities are in Henderson County, North Carolina?
Henderson County contains 18 Census-designated places.