Rowan County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Rowan County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 148,487. It is the 19th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rowan 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 Rowan County is $63,196. This is 10% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 20% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.8%. This is 20% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.9%. This is 22% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $216,100. Housing costs are 17% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 71.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Rowan County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 68.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 15.4%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

21.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% lower 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 88.1%.