Stokes, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 210, Stokes'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

Stokes is a small community located in North Carolina, within Pitt County. The total population is 210. It ranks as the 697th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Stokes is 44.9 years. This is 15% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 10.5% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 17.6% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Stokes is $59,625. This is 18% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 26% lower than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Stokes. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The unemployment rate is 9.8%. This is 107% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $225,000. Housing costs are 22% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 74.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Stokes is White (non-Hispanic), making up 48.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 36.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (36.7% vs 20.0%).

Education

5.1% 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 86% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Stokes, 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.