Sampson County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Name: Sampson County, North Carolina Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Sampson County, North Carolina has a population of 59,470, the 47th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $52,432 and the median home value is $150,700. The poverty rate is 21.8%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Sampson County Quick Facts

Population 59,470

Median Household Income $52,432

Median Home Value $150,700

Poverty Rate 21.8%

Unemployment Rate 5.3%

Median Age 39.7 years

Homeownership Rate 73.8%

Affordability Ratio 2.9x

Bachelor's Degree+ 16.2%

High School Graduation 84.1%

Cities/Places 17

Population 59,470 47th of 100

Median Income $52,432 28% lower than state

Poverty Rate 21.8%

Unemployment 5.3%

How Sampson 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	59,245	59,470	+0.4%
Median household income	$53,159	$52,432	-1.4%
Median home value	$128,400	$150,700	+17.4%

Median Household Income

Sampson

$52,432

$72,388

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Sampson

$150,700

$288,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 23.9%

$25K-$50K 24.4%

$50K-$100K 27.8%

$100K+ 23.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

6.8%

$10K-$15K

7.2%

$15K-$20K

5.1%

$20K-$25K

4.9%

$25K-$30K

4.7%

$30K-$35K

3.9%

$35K-$40K

6.0%

$40K-$45K

4.7%

$45K-$50K

5.1%

$50K-$60K

6.7%

$60K-$75K

8.5%

$75K-$100K

12.6%

$100K-$125K

9.2%

$125K-$150K

7.0%

$150K-$200K

4.9%

$200K+

2.8%

Employment

5.3% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

56.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 73.8%

Renter 26.2%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.9x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $834/mo 19.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

24.5%

18-34

19.8%

35-54

24.7%

55-74

23.6%

75+

7.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

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 Sampson County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Clinton	8,304	$44,953	23.6%	$212,000
Plain View	1,741	$53,636	10.5%	$200,900
Roseboro	1,123	$39,333	39.2%	$130,300
Bonnetsville	1,063	N/A	62.8%	N/A
Spivey's Corner	954	$43,938	0.0%	$85,400
Garland	704	$57,829	9.1%	$123,900
Faison	660	$42,333	24.2%	$104,200
Ingold	599	$50,893	3.7%	$33,400
Salemburg	550	$83,026	9.7%	$163,100
Newton Grove	498	$68,906	4.2%	$149,600
Turkey	391	N/A	5.4%	$52,100
Ivanhoe	275	$90,724	12.5%	$148,500
Keener	271	$39,299	0.0%	$139,200
Vann Crossroads	187	N/A	26.7%	$249,200
Autryville	177	$43,636	14.4%	$152,900
Harrells	175	$43,750	40.6%	$175,000
Delway	167	N/A	67.7%	N/A

Explore North Carolina Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Sampson County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 59,470. It is the 47th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 17 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sampson County is 39.7 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sampson County is $52,432. This is 28% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.8%. This is 67% 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 5.3%. This is 12% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $150,700. Housing costs are 48% lower than the state median of $288,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Sampson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Sampson County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 49.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 24.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (22.0% vs 11.3%). The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

16.2% 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 54% 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 84.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Sampson 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 Sampson County, North Carolina?

Sampson County has a population of 59,470, making it the 47th most populous county in North Carolina.

What is the median income in Sampson County?

The median household income in Sampson County is $52,432 with a poverty rate of 21.8%.

How many cities are in Sampson County, North Carolina?

Sampson County contains 17 Census-designated places.