Surry County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
Surry County, North Carolina has a population of 71,425, the 38th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $55,656 and the median home value is $177,600. The poverty rate is 16.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Surry County Quick Facts
How Surry 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 | 71,407 | 71,425 | +0.0% |
| Median household income | $56,095 | $55,656 | -0.8% |
| Median home value | $166,400 | $177,600 | +6.7% |
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 Surry County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Airy | 10,633 | $40,275 | 26.9% | $181,900 |
| Elkin | 4,043 | $60,740 | 22.3% | $226,900 |
| Dobson | 1,652 | $43,750 | 22.4% | $173,900 |
| Pilot Mountain | 1,483 | $49,200 | 12.4% | $203,600 |
| Flat Rock | 1,062 | $42,018 | 11.9% | $95,400 |
| Toast | 893 | $35,111 | 14.0% | $104,800 |
| White Plains | 795 | $44,242 | 10.7% | $231,700 |
| Lowgap | 264 | $60,368 | 8.7% | $163,500 |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Surry County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 71,425. It is the 38th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Surry County is 43.8 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Surry County is $55,656. This is 23% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.8%. This is 29% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 7% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $177,600. Housing costs are 39% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 73.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Surry County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.5%. The Black or African American population (3.5%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.
Education
20.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% 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 83.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Surry 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 Surry County, North Carolina?
Surry County has a population of 71,425, making it the 38th most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in Surry County?
The median household income in Surry County is $55,656 with a poverty rate of 16.8%.
How many cities are in Surry County, North Carolina?
Surry County contains 8 Census-designated places.