Stanly County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
Stanly County, North Carolina has a population of 63,557, the 43rd most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $61,631 and the median home value is $214,300. The poverty rate is 14.2%.
Stanly County Quick Facts
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
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Stanly County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albemarle | 16,527 | $52,825 | 22.5% | $186,100 |
| Norwood | 3,110 | $57,953 | 10.8% | $178,900 |
| Oakboro | 2,453 | $76,071 | 5.6% | $235,800 |
| Badin | 2,163 | $43,068 | 23.3% | $130,500 |
| Stanfield | 1,554 | $81,375 | 11.0% | $302,400 |
| Richfield | 839 | $80,536 | 12.8% | $212,100 |
| Red Cross | 740 | $58,375 | 7.6% | $217,200 |
| Misenheimer | 645 | $42,917 | 9.6% | $189,600 |
| New London | 594 | $59,688 | 14.2% | $256,300 |
| Millingport | 455 | $93,594 | 2.9% | $192,000 |
| Aquadale | 357 | $108,984 | 0.0% | $117,200 |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Stanly County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 63,557. It is the 43rd most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Stanly County is 40.6 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Stanly County is $61,631. This is 12% lower than the state median of $69,904. It is also 22% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 14.2%. This is 8% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.1%. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $214,300. Housing costs are 17% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 73.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 66.4%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Stanly County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 11.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.3%) is well below the state average of 10.9%.
Education
19.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% 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 87.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Stanly County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), 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 Stanly County, North Carolina?
Stanly County has a population of 63,557, making it the 43rd most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in Stanly County?
The median household income in Stanly County is $61,631 with a poverty rate of 14.2%.
How many cities are in Stanly County, North Carolina?
Stanly County contains 11 Census-designated places.