Lincolnton city, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Lincolnton city, North Carolina Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

As of 2026, Lincolnton city, North Carolina has a total population of 11,503, the 86th largest city in North Carolina, with a median household income of $43,294, which is 38% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 18.4%.

Key Takeaways

Household income is 38% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.

Lincolnton city Quick Facts

Population 11,503

Median Household Income $43,294

Median Home Value $224,600

Poverty Rate 18.4%

Unemployment Rate 3.4%

Median Age 37.7 years

Homeownership Rate 45.3%

Affordability Ratio 5.2x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 19.4%

High School Graduation Rate 87.3%

Diversity Index 59/100

Population 11,503 86th of 774

Median Income $43,294 bottom 30%

Poverty Rate 18.4% 48% higher national

Median Home Value $224,600 above average

How Lincolnton city Compares

Median Household Income

Lincolnton city

$43,294

$69,904

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Lincolnton city

$224,600

$259,400

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 28.8%

$25K-$50K 28.7%

$50K-$100K 23.9%

$100K+ 18.6%

Employment

3.4% Unemployment Rate State: 4.8% | National: 5.2%

57.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 45.3%

Renter 54.7%

Affordability Index Expensive

5.2x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

22.7%

18-34

25.1%

35-54

19.7%

55-74

23.5%

75+

9.0%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 57 | National average: 60

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Lincolnton city Rankings in North Carolina

#86 Population of 774

#555 Median Income of 774

#432 Education of 774

#267 Home Value of 774

Explore North Carolina Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Cities Similar to Lincolnton city

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Kings Mountain city	11,472	$45,507	$177,700	17.0%	23.7%
Spring Lake town	11,613	$50,497	$101,300	24.8%	20.9%
Smithfield town	11,798	$37,827	$217,000	26.0%	31.4%
Mount Airy city	10,631	$39,873	$176,600	24.3%	27.1%
Tarboro town	10,705	$49,386	$155,500	25.4%	19.8%

Population Overview

Lincolnton city is a small city located in North Carolina. The total population is 11,503. It ranks as the 86th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lincolnton city is 37.7 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lincolnton city is $43,294. This is 38% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 45% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.4%. This is 39% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 31% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $224,600. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.2x. 45.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 32% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lincolnton city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 58.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 20.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (17.2% vs 10.9%). The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

19.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 44% lower 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 87.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Lincolnton city, 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.

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 Lincolnton city, North Carolina?

Lincolnton city, North Carolina has a population of 11,503 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Lincolnton city, NC?

The median household income in Lincolnton city is $43,294, which is 45% lower the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Lincolnton city, NC?

The poverty rate in Lincolnton city is 18.4%. This means approximately 2,058 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Lincolnton city, North Carolina?

Lincolnton city's population is 58.1% White, 20.3% Black, 17.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.1% Asian.

What is the median home value in Lincolnton city, NC?

The median home value in Lincolnton city is $224,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.2x.

How educated is Lincolnton city, North Carolina?

19.4% of adults (25+) in Lincolnton city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.