Wilkes County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Wilkes County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 65,983. It is the 40th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wilkes County is 45.3 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wilkes County is $50,438. This is 28% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 36% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.4%. This is 25% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.9%. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $161,400. Housing costs are 38% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 73.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Wilkes County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.2%. The Black or African American population (3.7%) is well below the state average of 20.3%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

16.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% 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 81.9%.