Old Fort, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 555, Old Fort'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

Old Fort is a small community located in North Carolina, within McDowell County. The total population is 555. It ranks as the 568th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Old Fort is 53.4 years. This is 37% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 11.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 14.6% 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 Old Fort is $47,500. This is 34% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 41% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.7%. This is 5% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.7%. This is 22% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $135,900. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $288,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Old Fort is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 48.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 28% lower than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Old Fort has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.0% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 4.9%. The Black or African American population (4.9%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.1%) is well below the state average of 11.3%.

Education

25.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% 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 94.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Old Fort, 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.