Salisbury city, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Salisbury city is a mid-sized community located in North Carolina. The total population is 35,730. It ranks as the 28th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Salisbury city is 36.5 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Salisbury city is $51,058. This is 27% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 35% lower. The poverty rate stands at 24.3%. This is 84% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. 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 7.4%. This is 54% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $215,200. Housing costs are 17% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 49.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Salisbury city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 47.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 35.2%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (35.2% vs 20.3%). The Asian population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

26.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 23% 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 86.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Salisbury city, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.