Mount Gilead, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Mount Gilead is a small community located in North Carolina, within Montgomery County. The total population is 1,197. It ranks as the 426th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Mount Gilead is 43.5 years. This is 11% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 10.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Mount Gilead is $58,885. This is 19% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.8%. This is 29% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 7.3%. This is 55% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $157,300. Housing costs are 46% lower than the state median of $288,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Mount Gilead is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 61.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% lower than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Mount Gilead is Black or African American, making up 45.7% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 28.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (28.2%) is well below the state average of 60.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (45.7% vs 20.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 11.3%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (23.4% vs 3.3%).

Education

28.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 21% 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 86.0%. Notably, 17.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Mount Gilead, 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.