Vance County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Vance County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 42,361. It is the 61st most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Vance County is 39.9 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Vance County is $46,943. This is 33% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 40% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.9%. This is 44% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 6.9%. This is 42% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $146,300. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 57.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Vance County is Black or African American, making up 48.9% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 37.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (48.9% vs 20.3%). The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

18.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 47% 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 85.4%.