Locust, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Locust, North Carolina had a total population of 5,840, the 154th largest city in North Carolina, with a median household income of $76,504, which is 6% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 8.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Locust Quick Facts
How Locust 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 | 5,529 | 5,840 | +5.6% |
| Median household income | $78,280 | $76,504 | -2.3% |
| Median home value | $285,800 | $322,100 | +12.7% |
How Locust 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+)
Locust Rankings in North Carolina
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Other Cities in Cabarrus County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concord | 108,719 | $86,921 | 9.6% | $353,700 |
| Kannapolis | 57,890 | $73,836 | 12.6% | $276,400 |
| Harrisburg | 19,633 | $148,254 | 3.8% | $478,000 |
| Mount Pleasant | 2,230 | $90,795 | 6.6% | $306,500 |
Cities Similar to Locust
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbecue | 5,910 | $79,426 | $219,800 | 22.1% | 3.9% |
| Walkertown | 5,873 | $82,615 | $236,900 | 30.3% | 10.8% |
| Wrightsboro | 6,287 | $78,450 | $255,700 | 25.9% | 10.7% |
| Cherryville | 6,226 | $70,625 | $232,100 | 24.8% | 12.4% |
| Cramerton | 5,450 | $82,160 | $343,400 | 46.2% | 6.3% |
Population Overview
Locust is a small city located in North Carolina, within Cabarrus County. The total population is 5,840. It ranks as the 154th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.
Age Demographics
The median age in Locust is 36.2 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Locust is $76,504. 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 8.7%. This is 33% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 23% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $322,100. Housing costs are 11% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 86.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Locust has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (91.0% vs 60.0%). The Black or African American population (2.7%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.8%) is well below the state average of 11.3%.
Education
22.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% 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 88.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Locust, 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 Locust, North Carolina?
Locust, North Carolina has a population of 5,840 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Locust, NC?
The median household income in Locust is $76,504, which is 5% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Locust, NC?
The poverty rate in Locust is 8.7%. This means approximately 507 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Locust, North Carolina?
Locust's population is 91.0% White, 2.7% Black, 3.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Locust, NC?
The median home value in Locust is $322,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x.
How educated is Locust, North Carolina?
22.5% of adults (25+) in Locust hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.