Iron Station, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Iron Station, North Carolina had a total population of 934, the 476th largest community in North Carolina, with a median household income of $77,083, which is 6% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 16.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x.
Iron Station Quick Facts
How Iron Station 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 | 722 | 934 | +29.4% |
| Median household income | $74,597 | $77,083 | +3.3% |
How Iron Station 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
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Iron Station Rankings in North Carolina
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Other Cities in Lincoln County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincolnton | 11,783 | $46,320 | 22.7% | $248,700 |
| Westport | 5,915 | $131,908 | 2.5% | $580,000 |
| Lowesville | 3,874 | $113,510 | 4.1% | $406,500 |
| Denver | 2,497 | $65,721 | 6.0% | $296,300 |
| Crouse | 408 | N/A | 0.0% | $212,300 |
Cities Similar to Iron Station
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points | 940 | N/A | $344,100 | 22.2% | 21.7% |
| Richfield | 937 | $70,750 | $219,900 | 26.6% | 11.4% |
| Gold Hill | 914 | $73,187 | $279,600 | 22.5% | 12.4% |
| Harmony | 967 | $80,288 | $126,400 | 7.1% | 6.1% |
| White Lake | 970 | $84,375 | $235,300 | 43.3% | 5.9% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 934, Iron Station'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
Iron Station is a small community located in North Carolina, within Lincoln County. The total population is 934. It ranks as the 476th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.
Age Demographics
The median age in Iron Station is 43.4 years. This is 11% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. With 40.2% of the population under 18, Iron Station has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Iron Station is $77,083. This is 6% higher than the state median of $72,388. It is also 5% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.7%. This is 28% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Iron Station, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $158,700. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $288,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Iron Station is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 91.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 37% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Iron Station is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 16.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 11.3%.
Education
18.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 48% 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 80.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Iron Station, 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 Iron Station, North Carolina?
Iron Station, North Carolina has a population of 934 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Iron Station, NC?
The median household income in Iron Station is $77,083, which is 5% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Iron Station, NC?
The poverty rate in Iron Station is 16.7%. This means approximately 156 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Iron Station, North Carolina?
Iron Station's population is 75.0% White, 16.1% Black, 0.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Iron Station, NC?
The median home value in Iron Station is $158,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.1x.
How educated is Iron Station, North Carolina?
18.6% of adults (25+) in Iron Station hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.