Nash County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Nash County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 95,451. It is the 30th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Nash County is 41.6 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Nash County is $60,704. This is 13% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 23% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.0%. This is 7% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 6.2%. This is 28% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $171,100. Housing costs are 34% lower than the state median of $259,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Nash County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 63.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Nash County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 46.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 40.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (40.5% vs 20.3%). The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

21.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% lower 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 86.4%.