Newland, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 866, Newland's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Newland is a small community located in North Carolina, within Avery County. The total population is 866. It ranks as the 493rd most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Newland is 47.0 years. This is 20% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 12.0% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Newland is $46,006. This is 36% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 43% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 22.3%. This is 71% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 8.4%. This is 77% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $241,700. Housing costs are 16% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x. 58.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% lower than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Newland has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (91.1% vs 60.0%). The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 20.0%.

Education

27.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 22% 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 97.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Newland, 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.