Martin County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Martin County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 21,644. It is the 78th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Martin County is 46.8 years. This is 20% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 10.3% 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 Martin County is $48,578. This is 33% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 40% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.4%. This is 56% 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 unemployment rate is 6.1%. This is 30% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $109,700. Housing costs are 62% lower than the state median of $288,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Martin County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 66.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Martin County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 51.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 40.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (40.1% vs 20.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population (4.5%) is well below the state average of 11.3%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

16.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 53% 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 84.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Martin County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against North Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.