Robeson County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
Robeson County, North Carolina has a population of 116,902, the 26th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $41,978 and the median home value is $94,500. The poverty rate is 27.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Robeson County Quick Facts
How Robeson 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 | 116,858 | 116,902 | +0.0% |
| Median household income | $40,318 | $41,978 | +4.1% |
| Median home value | $88,600 | $94,500 | +6.7% |
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
This community is exceptionally diverse, with no single racial or ethnic group dominating the population.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Robeson County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumberton | 18,859 | $42,877 | 30.8% | $152,600 |
| Red Springs | 3,125 | $20,833 | 40.0% | $100,800 |
| Pembroke | 2,822 | $25,889 | 39.1% | $129,400 |
| St. Pauls | 2,688 | $36,800 | 37.8% | $111,000 |
| Fairmont | 2,463 | $36,641 | 29.0% | $106,800 |
| Maxton | 2,330 | $22,667 | 42.7% | $83,200 |
| Barker Ten Mile | 1,156 | $66,667 | 6.0% | $163,700 |
| Rowland | 946 | $32,500 | 33.7% | $118,000 |
| Prospect | 907 | $110,769 | 21.7% | $100,700 |
| Parkton | 529 | $56,250 | 20.8% | $151,900 |
| Rennert | 292 | $26,875 | 33.9% | $45,800 |
| Raemon | 288 | $76,563 | 3.5% | $96,300 |
| Elrod | 246 | $30,625 | 26.8% | N/A |
| Wakulla | 142 | N/A | 26.1% | $240,900 |
| Shannon | 125 | N/A | 17.6% | N/A |
| Proctorville | 109 | $75,625 | 11.0% | $93,000 |
| McDonald | 106 | $51,875 | 0.0% | $95,600 |
| Marietta | 106 | $62,500 | 15.1% | $135,700 |
| Lumber Bridge | 75 | $65,417 | 22.7% | $172,500 |
| Rex | 59 | N/A | 0.0% | $105,400 |
| Orrum | 56 | $21,250 | 62.5% | N/A |
| Raynham | 42 | N/A | 14.3% | N/A |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Robeson County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 116,902. It is the 26th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 22 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Robeson County is 36.4 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Robeson County is $41,978. This is 42% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 48% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 27.2%. This is 109% 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 6.0%. This is 26% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $94,500. Housing costs are 67% lower than the state median of $288,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Robeson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 65.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% lower than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Robeson County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Black or African American residents account for 23.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (23.3%) is well below the state average of 60.0%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.
Education
14.7% 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 59% 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 80.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Robeson 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 Robeson County, North Carolina?
Robeson County has a population of 116,902, making it the 26th most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in Robeson County?
The median household income in Robeson County is $41,978 with a poverty rate of 27.2%.
How many cities are in Robeson County, North Carolina?
Robeson County contains 22 Census-designated places.