Orange County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Orange County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 147,292. It is the 20th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Orange County is 36.2 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Orange County is $88,553. This is 27% higher than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 13% higher. The poverty rate stands at 12.4%. This is 6% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 25% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $428,500. Housing costs are 65% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.8x. 64.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Orange County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 66.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.5%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (7.8% vs 3.1%).

Education

61.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Orange County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 78% 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 93.2%. Notably, 34.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.