Wilkes County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
Wilkes County, North Carolina has a population of 65,935, the 40th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $51,721 and the median home value is $168,800. The poverty rate is 16.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Wilkes County Quick Facts
How Wilkes 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 | 65,983 | 65,935 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | $50,438 | $51,721 | +2.5% |
| Median home value | $161,400 | $168,800 | +4.6% |
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 Wilkes County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Wilkesboro | 4,421 | $38,474 | 23.8% | $212,700 |
| Wilkesboro | 3,646 | $40,907 | 22.6% | $223,700 |
| Cricket | 2,317 | $39,859 | 27.0% | $140,600 |
| Mulberry | 2,037 | $51,919 | 11.7% | $172,400 |
| Fairplains | 1,803 | $38,585 | 36.3% | $140,200 |
| Millers Creek | 1,689 | $63,125 | 18.9% | $227,200 |
| Moravian Falls | 1,285 | $47,548 | 5.4% | $218,800 |
| Hays | 1,053 | $55,035 | 4.9% | $183,800 |
| Pleasant Hill | 793 | $52,381 | 7.1% | $147,800 |
| Ronda | 436 | $48,393 | 21.3% | $109,500 |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Wilkes County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 65,935. It is the 40th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Wilkes County is 45.7 years. This is 17% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Wilkes County is $51,721. This is 29% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 36% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.7%. This is 28% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 6% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $168,800. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 73.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Wilkes County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.4%. The Black or African American population (3.6%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.
Education
16.9% 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 81.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Wilkes 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 Wilkes County, North Carolina?
Wilkes County has a population of 65,935, making it the 40th most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in Wilkes County?
The median household income in Wilkes County is $51,721 with a poverty rate of 16.7%.
How many cities are in Wilkes County, North Carolina?
Wilkes County contains 10 Census-designated places.