Rowan County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
Rowan County, North Carolina has a population of 149,875, the 20th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $65,725 and the median home value is $238,400. The poverty rate is 16.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Rowan County Quick Facts
How Rowan 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 | 148,487 | 149,875 | +0.9% |
| Median household income | $63,196 | $65,725 | +4.0% |
| Median home value | $216,100 | $238,400 | +10.3% |
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
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Rowan County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salisbury | 35,825 | $53,716 | 26.3% | $242,500 |
| China Grove | 4,530 | $54,083 | 17.2% | $225,800 |
| Landis | 3,765 | $75,000 | 6.9% | $252,100 |
| Spencer | 3,349 | $65,465 | 11.2% | $201,700 |
| Enochville | 3,321 | $66,225 | 18.6% | $265,700 |
| Granite Quarry | 3,043 | $57,981 | 8.3% | $257,300 |
| Rockwell | 2,782 | $69,632 | 7.0% | $237,200 |
| East Spencer | 1,434 | $34,417 | 26.7% | $112,000 |
| Cleveland | 1,080 | $58,750 | 17.2% | $242,600 |
| Faith | 917 | $139,844 | 3.4% | $264,000 |
| Gold Hill | 914 | $73,187 | 12.4% | $279,600 |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Rowan County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 149,875. It is the 20th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Rowan County is 40.4 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Rowan County is $65,725. This is 9% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 19% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.0%. This is 23% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 13% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $238,400. Housing costs are 17% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 72.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Rowan County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 15.5%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.
Education
23.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 35% 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 88.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Rowan 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 Rowan County, North Carolina?
Rowan County has a population of 149,875, making it the 20th most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in Rowan County?
The median household income in Rowan County is $65,725 with a poverty rate of 16.0%.
How many cities are in Rowan County, North Carolina?
Rowan County contains 11 Census-designated places.