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CITY

Dobson

North Carolina · 1,474 residents (2025 est.) · 2.03 sq mi
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The short version

Dobson is home to 1,652 people in North Carolina. 49% of homes are owner-occupied. Households here earn about 40% less than in North Carolina as a whole. Median rent is $528 a month. About 24% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The typical home is worth $173,900, having more than doubled since 2000.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

1,652
+13%since 2000
from 1,457 in 2000
1,474 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
813 / sq mi
+28%since 2009
from 637 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
35.8
+3%since 2000
from 34.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
2.03 sq mi
Population, 19902024
1K1K2K2K2K19902000201020202024Dobson
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 53.1%(52)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.6%(109)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148.4%(138)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194%(66)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 247.3%(120)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3418.6%(307)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4416%(265)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.8%(195)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 645.6%(93)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.4%(172)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.9%(97)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.3%(38)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$43,750
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,765 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
$26,231
+36%since 2000
from $19,346 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
26.8%
+13.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
22.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 23.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
0.522
+18%since 2010
from 0.444 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade32.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information7.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Arts, entertainment, food7.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade3.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Finance & insurance2.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services1.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$173,900
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $86,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
$528
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $346 in 2000
US average: $1,442
48.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 50.6% in 2000
51.3% rent
10.4%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.17 people
−6%since 2009
from 2.30 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
31.1%
+12.2 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
39.1%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 43.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
4.0
−10%since 2009
from 4.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
48
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic70.1%(1,022)
Black3.7%(54)
Hispanic / Latino25.8%(376)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic60.7%(1,002)
Black11.3%(187)
Hispanic / Latino21.6%(357)
Asian3.9%(64)
Other2.5%(42)
71
+38%since 2009
from 52 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican13.6%(225)
Honduran1.6%(27)
Puerto Rican0.7%(12)
Cuban0.1%(2)
Asian origin
Vietnamese3.8%(63)
Cambodian0.1%(1)
Ancestry
English24.6%(406)
Irish9.7%(160)
German5.2%(86)
American4.1%(67)
Italian2.8%(46)
Scotch-Irish1.3%(22)
Czech1%(17)
Austrian0.8%(14)
Arab0.7%(12)
Ethiopian0.7%(12)
Welsh0.7%(11)
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data
Syrian0.3%(5)
British0.2%(4)
Dutch0.2%(4)
Norwegian0.2%(4)
French0.1%(1)
Section 05

Education

24.3%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 17.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
79.4%
+19.9 ptssince 2000
from 59.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
10.4%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 7.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

18.0 min
+26%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
61.4%
−19.3 ptssince 2009
from 80.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
30.0%
+19.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
5.4%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
0.0%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
19.1%
+5.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

4.9%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 6.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
46.3%
−12.4 ptssince 2011
from 58.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
77.6%
+9.4 ptssince 2020
from 68.2% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
17.4%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
39.1%
+14.5 ptssince 2009
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

56.6%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
43.4%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
11.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
5.4%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
24.5%
+5.5 ptssince 2012
from 19.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
12.4%
−9.0 ptssince 2013
from 21.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
83.1%
+28.2 ptssince 2017
from 54.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
90.4%
+8.8 ptssince 2020
from 81.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
77.2%
−7.4 ptssince 2020
from 84.6% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
78.9%
−11.0 ptssince 2016
from 89.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
15.6%
+5.5 ptssince 2016
from 10.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married44%(332)
Married41.2%(311)
Widowed4.4%(33)
Divorced10.5%(79)
Women 15+
Never married22.7%(136)
Married43.3%(259)
Widowed11.7%(70)
Divorced22.2%(133)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

12.4%
−9.0 ptssince 2013
from 21.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
51.1%
−2.5 ptssince 2020
from 53.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
12.1%
−2.9 ptssince 2020
from 15.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
23.1%
−3.7 ptssince 2020
from 26.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
24.2%
+4.1 ptssince 2020
from 20.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 1.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
62.2%
−4.7 ptssince 2020
from 66.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
38.1%
−3.8 ptssince 2020
from 41.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)9.9%(7)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)31%(22)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era29.6%(21)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 71 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Dobson, North Carolina?

Dobson, North Carolina has about 1,652 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Dobson, North Carolina?

The typical household in Dobson, North Carolina earns about $43,750 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Dobson, North Carolina expensive?

In Dobson, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $173,900, and the typical rent is about $528 a month.

How educated are people in Dobson, North Carolina?

About 24.3% of adults age 25 and over in Dobson, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Dobson, North Carolina?

About 22.4% of people in Dobson, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Dobson, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Dobson, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 457 residents, a change of about 38 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →