Wilson County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Wilson County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 78,648. It is the 35th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wilson County is 40.7 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wilson County is $51,381. This is 26% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 35% lower. The poverty rate stands at 21.0%. This is 59% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 6.0%. This is 24% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $171,800. Housing costs are 34% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 59.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

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 39.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (39.1% vs 20.3%). The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

20.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% 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 84.4%.