McDonald, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 106, McDonald'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

McDonald is a small community located in North Carolina, within Robeson County. The total population is 106. It ranks as the 748th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in McDonald is 50.5 years. This is 29% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 12.3% 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 McDonald is $51,875. This is 28% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 36% lower than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in McDonald. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The survey records no unemployed residents in McDonald, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $95,600. Housing costs are 67% lower than the state median of $288,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, McDonald is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 85.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 28% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

McDonald is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (25.5%) is well below the state average of 60.0%. The Black or African American population (3.8%) is well below the state average of 20.0%.

Education

17.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% 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 70.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for McDonald, 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.