Wilson County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
Wilson County, North Carolina has a population of 79,290, the 36th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $56,423 and the median home value is $186,000. The poverty rate is 19.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Wilson County Quick Facts
How Wilson 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 | 78,648 | 79,290 | +0.8% |
| Median household income | $51,381 | $56,423 | +9.8% |
| Median home value | $171,800 | $186,000 | +8.3% |
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 diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Wilson County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson | 48,370 | $52,485 | 23.0% | $210,700 |
| Lucama | 1,205 | $54,583 | 20.1% | $115,500 |
| Stantonsburg | 958 | $61,176 | 20.8% | $132,600 |
| Black Creek | 749 | $53,750 | 20.2% | $112,200 |
| Sims | 522 | $78,267 | 3.8% | $196,900 |
| Saratoga | 291 | $30,469 | 20.3% | $97,900 |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Wilson County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 79,290. It is the 36th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Wilson County is 40.6 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Wilson County is $56,423. This is 22% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 30% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.8%. This is 52% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.6%. This is 19% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $186,000. Housing costs are 36% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 60.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% lower than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Wilson County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Black or African American residents account for 38.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (38.6% vs 20.0%). The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.
Education
21.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 39% 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 85.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Wilson 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 Wilson County, North Carolina?
Wilson County has a population of 79,290, making it the 36th most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in Wilson County?
The median household income in Wilson County is $56,423 with a poverty rate of 19.8%.
How many cities are in Wilson County, North Carolina?
Wilson County contains 6 Census-designated places.