Wade, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Wade, North Carolina had a total population of 518, the 584th largest town in North Carolina, with a median household income of $70,938, which is 2% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 19.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Unemployment rate of 12.6% is notably above the national average.
Wade Quick Facts
How Wade 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 | 565 | 518 | -8.3% |
| Median household income | $67,574 | $70,938 | +5.0% |
| Median home value | $204,200 | $215,000 | +5.3% |
How Wade Compares
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+)
Wade Rankings in North Carolina
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Other Cities in Cumberland County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | 210,815 | $58,407 | 17.7% | $188,000 |
| Hope Mills | 17,939 | $65,774 | 14.1% | $190,600 |
| Spring Lake | 11,573 | $51,958 | 17.7% | $124,000 |
| Eastover | 3,666 | $85,156 | 13.4% | $241,600 |
| Vander | 1,922 | $66,993 | 23.4% | $231,800 |
| Stedman | 1,670 | $107,250 | 7.5% | $218,800 |
| Falcon | 272 | N/A | 44.5% | $204,200 |
| Godwin | 203 | $53,542 | 16.3% | $158,300 |
| Linden | 129 | $66,250 | 25.6% | $150,000 |
Cities Similar to Wade
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton Grove | 498 | $68,906 | $149,600 | 38.5% | 4.2% |
| Sims | 522 | $78,267 | $196,900 | 14.6% | 3.8% |
| Polkville | 536 | $74,688 | $179,500 | 26.1% | 10.1% |
| Coinjock | 543 | $68,861 | $225,700 | 43.6% | 27.6% |
| Cape Colony | 509 | $78,152 | $221,400 | 28.5% | 14.1% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 518, Wade'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
Wade is a small community located in North Carolina, within Cumberland County. The total population is 518. It ranks as the 584th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.
Age Demographics
The median age in Wade is 41.9 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Wade is $70,938. This is 2% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 12% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.3%. This is 48% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 12.6%. This is 167% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $215,000. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 68.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Wade is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 12.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 11.3%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.
Education
16.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 53% 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 92.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Wade, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Wade, North Carolina?
Wade, North Carolina has a population of 518 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Wade, NC?
The median household income in Wade is $70,938, which is 12% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Wade, NC?
The poverty rate in Wade is 19.3%. This means approximately 100 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Wade, North Carolina?
Wade's population is 84.6% White, 12.2% Black, 2.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.2% Asian.
What is the median home value in Wade, NC?
The median home value in Wade is $215,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x.
How educated is Wade, North Carolina?
16.6% of adults (25+) in Wade hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.