New Hanover County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

New Hanover County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 231,214. It is the 11th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in New Hanover County is 40.1 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in New Hanover County is $72,892. This is 4% higher than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 7% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.4%. This is 6% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.7%. This is 2% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $353,700. Housing costs are 36% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.9x. 60.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in New Hanover County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 11.1%. The Asian population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

44.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places New Hanover County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 29% 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 93.6%. Notably, 15.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.