Martin County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Martin County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 21,773. It is the 77th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Martin County is 46.7 years. This is 19% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Martin County is $46,793. This is 33% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 40% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.6%. This is 49% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 7.0%. This is 45% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $109,900. Housing costs are 58% lower than the state median of $259,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Martin County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Martin County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 51.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 40.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (40.9% vs 20.3%). The Hispanic or Latino population (4.3%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

15.2% 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. This is 56% 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 83.3%.