Hot Springs, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Hot Springs, North Carolina had a total population of 567, the 563rd largest town in North Carolina, with a median household income of $44,688, which is 38% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 18.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 38% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
Hot Springs Quick Facts
How Hot Springs 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 | 494 | 567 | +14.8% |
| Median household income | $39,167 | $44,688 | +14.1% |
| Median home value | $184,900 | $179,200 | -3.1% |
How Hot Springs Compares
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+)
Hot Springs Rankings in North Carolina
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Other Cities in Madison County
Cities Similar to Hot Springs
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Micro | 573 | $44,531 | $170,700 | 16.0% | 22.9% |
| Aurora | 560 | $46,131 | $87,300 | 14.8% | 26.2% |
| Garysburg | 572 | $41,333 | $107,600 | 31.2% | 19.2% |
| Potters Hill | 595 | N/A | $112,800 | 13.1% | 37.6% |
| Elk Park | 560 | $41,583 | $160,400 | 14.4% | 33.4% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 567, Hot Springs'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
Hot Springs is a small community located in North Carolina, within Madison County. The total population is 567. It ranks as the 563rd most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.
Age Demographics
The median age in Hot Springs is 44.5 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 13.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Hot Springs is $44,688. This is 38% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 45% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.9%. This is 45% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.9%. This is 4% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $179,200. Housing costs are 38% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 51.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% lower than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Hot Springs has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 98.2% of all residents. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (98.2% vs 60.0%).
Education
26.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 25% 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 97.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Hot Springs, 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.
Free data download: Get all North Carolina city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Hot Springs, North Carolina?
Hot Springs, North Carolina has a population of 567 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Hot Springs, NC?
The median household income in Hot Springs is $44,688, which is 45% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Hot Springs, NC?
The poverty rate in Hot Springs is 18.9%. This means approximately 107 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Hot Springs, North Carolina?
Hot Springs's population is 98.2% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Hot Springs, NC?
The median home value in Hot Springs is $179,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x.
How educated is Hot Springs, North Carolina?
26.6% of adults (25+) in Hot Springs hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.