South Henderson, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

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

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, South Henderson, North Carolina had a total population of 981, the 463rd largest community in North Carolina, with a median household income of $28,558, which is 61% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 44.3%.

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

Key Takeaways

Household income is 61% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (44.3%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
Only 6.9% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
Unemployment rate of 33.3% is notably above the national average.

South Henderson Quick Facts

Population 981

Median Household Income $28,558

Median Home Value N/A

Poverty Rate 44.3%

Unemployment Rate 33.3%

Median Age 33.5 years

Homeownership Rate 50.8%

Affordability Ratio N/A

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 6.9%

High School Graduation Rate 72.9%

Diversity Index 56/100

Population 981 463rd of 772

Median Income $28,558 bottom 10%

Poverty Rate 44.3% 256% higher than national

Median Home Value N/A

How South Henderson 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	1,274	981	-23.0%
Median household income	$36,417	$28,558	-21.6%

How South Henderson Compares

Median Household Income

South Henderson

$28,558

$72,388

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

$288,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 46.5%

$25K-$50K 25.4%

$50K-$100K 16.2%

$100K+ 11.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

9.8%

$10K-$15K

21.4%

$15K-$20K

4.0%

$20K-$25K

11.3%

$25K-$30K

5.8%

$30K-$35K

9.8%

$35K-$40K

3.4%

$40K-$45K

1.5%

$45K-$50K

4.9%

$50K-$60K

2.5%

$60K-$75K

6.1%

$75K-$100K

7.6%

$100K-$125K

0.0%

$125K-$150K

10.1%

$150K-$200K

0.0%

$200K+

1.8%

Employment

33.3% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

57.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 50.8%

Renter 49.2%

Median gross rent $932/mo 39.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

29.5%

18-34

22.9%

35-54

22.8%

55-74

21.3%

75+

3.5%

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+)

South Henderson Rankings in North Carolina

#463 Population of 772

#691 Median Income of 716

#707 Education of 772

N/A Home Value of 725

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

Other Cities in Vance County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Henderson	14,885	$39,969	27.3%	$123,800
Middleburg	141	N/A	49.6%	N/A
Kittrell	57	$61,250	17.5%	$141,700

Cities Similar to South Henderson

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Five Points	940	N/A	$344,100	22.2%	21.7%
Laurel Hill	986	$30,893	$56,700	10.2%	31.3%
Bonnetsville	1,063	N/A	N/A	5.1%	62.8%
Rowland	946	$32,500	$118,000	11.3%	33.7%
Barker Heights	1,074	$29,277	$190,300	3.0%	49.7%

A note before these figures: with a population of 981, South Henderson's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

South Henderson is a small community located in North Carolina, within Vance County. The total population is 981. It ranks as the 463rd most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in South Henderson is 33.5 years. This is 14% lower than the state median of 39.1 years. With 29.5% of the population under 18, South Henderson has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in South Henderson is $28,558. This is 61% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 65% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 44.3%. This is 240% 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 33.3%. This is 606% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. 50.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% lower than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in South Henderson is Black or African American, making up 58.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 27.9%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (13.3%) is well below the state average of 60.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (58.8% vs 20.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (27.9% vs 11.3%).

Education

6.9% 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 81% 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 72.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for South Henderson, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

Free data download: Get all North Carolina city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of South Henderson, North Carolina?

South Henderson, North Carolina has a population of 981 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in South Henderson, NC?

The median household income in South Henderson is $28,558, which is 65% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in South Henderson, NC?

The poverty rate in South Henderson is 44.3%. This means approximately 435 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of South Henderson, North Carolina?

South Henderson's population is 13.3% White, 58.8% Black, 27.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.

What is the median home value in South Henderson, NC?

The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median home value estimate for South Henderson — there are too few owner-occupied homes in the ACS sample. The national median is $332,700.

How educated is South Henderson, North Carolina?

6.9% of adults (25+) in South Henderson hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.