Light Oak, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 277, Light Oak'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

Light Oak is a small community located in North Carolina, within Cleveland County. The total population is 277. It ranks as the 669th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Light Oak is 57.8 years. This is 48% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 7.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Light Oak is $63,333. This is 13% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 22% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 31.4%. This is 141% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Light Oak, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $89,200. Housing costs are 69% lower than the state median of $288,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x, Light Oak is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 89.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 34% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Light Oak is Black or African American, making up 83.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 16.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (83.4% vs 20.0%).

Education

0.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Light Oak, 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.