Lake Lure town, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Lake Lure town is a small community located in North Carolina. The total population is 1,488. It ranks as the 387th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lake Lure town is 61.8 years. This is 58% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 8.8% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 15.5% 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 Lake Lure town is $72,813. This is 4% higher than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 7% lower. The poverty rate stands at 8.9%. This is 32% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 2.8%. This is 42% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $510,300. Housing costs are 97% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.0x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 86.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lake Lure town is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.7%.

Education

58.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Lake Lure town in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 69% higher than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.3%. Notably, 22.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Lake Lure town, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.