Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Mecklenburg County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 1,130,906. It is the 2nd most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Mecklenburg County is 35.4 years. This is 9% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Mecklenburg County is $83,765. This is 20% higher than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 7% higher. The poverty rate stands at 10.4%. This is 21% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $371,200. Housing costs are 43% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.4x. 55.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Mecklenburg County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Black or African American residents account for 30.1%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (6.1% vs 3.1%).

Education

48.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Mecklenburg County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 40% higher 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 90.8%. Notably, 17.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.