McDowell County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
McDowell County, North Carolina has a population of 44,817, the 56th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $57,168 and the median home value is $171,100. The poverty rate is 14.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
McDowell County Quick Facts
How McDowell County 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 | 44,679 | 44,817 | +0.3% |
| Median household income | $55,527 | $57,168 | +3.0% |
| Median home value | $168,300 | $171,100 | +1.7% |
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+)
Cities & Places in McDowell County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion | 7,579 | $51,314 | 23.5% | $163,500 |
| Nebo | 1,670 | $50,139 | 16.9% | $129,800 |
| West Marion | 1,066 | $36,715 | 15.1% | $161,600 |
| Old Fort | 555 | $47,500 | 13.7% | $135,900 |
| Glenwood | 226 | $120,694 | 0.0% | N/A |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
McDowell County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 44,817. It is the 56th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in McDowell County is 44.3 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in McDowell County is $57,168. This is 21% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 29% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.8%. This is 14% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.1%. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $171,100. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 75.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
McDowell County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.1%. The Black or African American population (3.9%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.
Education
18.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 49% 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 85.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for McDowell 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of McDowell County, North Carolina?
McDowell County has a population of 44,817, making it the 56th most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in McDowell County?
The median household income in McDowell County is $57,168 with a poverty rate of 14.8%.
How many cities are in McDowell County, North Carolina?
McDowell County contains 5 Census-designated places.