Surry County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Surry County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 71,407. It is the 38th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Surry County is 43.7 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Surry County is $56,095. This is 20% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 29% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.7%. This is 27% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $166,400. Housing costs are 36% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 73.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Surry County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.2%. The Black or African American population (3.5%) is well below the state average of 20.3%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

19.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 44% 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 82.7%.