Richmond County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
Richmond County, North Carolina has a population of 42,344, the 60th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $44,883 and the median home value is $127,800. The poverty rate is 25.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Richmond County Quick Facts
How Richmond County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 42,818 | 42,344 | -1.1% |
| Median household income | $43,626 | $44,883 | +2.9% |
| Median home value | $120,800 | $127,800 | +5.8% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Richmond County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockingham | 8,967 | $37,224 | 30.6% | $150,800 |
| Hamlet | 5,961 | $41,590 | 21.6% | $112,600 |
| East Rockingham | 2,779 | $34,355 | 31.0% | $111,800 |
| Cordova | 1,372 | $60,952 | 46.7% | $155,000 |
| Ellerbe | 1,036 | $34,808 | 28.4% | $78,000 |
| Hoffman | 821 | N/A | 58.2% | $72,900 |
| Dobbins Heights | 560 | $18,958 | 50.0% | $56,000 |
| Roberdel | 279 | $85,380 | 8.2% | $110,900 |
| Norman | 89 | N/A | 58.4% | N/A |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Richmond County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 42,344. It is the 60th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Richmond County is 40.5 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Richmond County is $44,883. This is 38% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 44% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 25.2%. This is 94% 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 9.8%. This is 107% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $127,800. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $288,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Richmond County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 66.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% lower than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Richmond County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 54.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 31.2%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (31.2% vs 20.0%). The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.
Education
16.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 55% 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 83.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Richmond County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against North Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Richmond County, North Carolina?
Richmond County has a population of 42,344, making it the 60th most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in Richmond County?
The median household income in Richmond County is $44,883 with a poverty rate of 25.2%.
How many cities are in Richmond County, North Carolina?
Richmond County contains 9 Census-designated places.