Rich Square, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 880, Rich Square'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

Rich Square is a small community located in North Carolina, within Northampton County. The total population is 880. It ranks as the 490th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rich Square is 59.1 years. This is 51% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 12.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 22.8% 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 Rich Square is $37,031. This is 49% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 54% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 35.2%. This is 170% 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 11.8%. This is 151% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $85,000. Housing costs are 71% lower than the state median of $288,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Rich Square is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Rich Square is Black or African American, making up 61.4% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 35.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (61.4% vs 20.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 11.3%.

Education

14.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 60% 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 81.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Rich Square, 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.