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CITY

Dobson

North Carolina · 1,474 residents (2025 est.) · 2.032 sq mi
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Part of the Mount Airy micropolitan area
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The short version

Dobson has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $43,750. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $173,900. The poverty rate of 22.4% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 40% less than the North Carolina median.

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

Total population
1,652
+13%since 2000
from 1,457 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
813 / sq mi
+13%since 2000
from 717 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
35.8
+3%since 2000
from 34.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,474 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K1K2K2K2K1990201020202024Dobson
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$43,750
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,765 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$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%
Poverty rate
22.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 23.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
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%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$173,900
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $86,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$528
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $346 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
48.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 50.6% in 2000
51.3% rent
Vacancy rate
10.4%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
31.1%
+12.2 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.1%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 43.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.0
+23%since 2000
from 3.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
48
RELATED:See current rent listings in Dobson on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic70.1%(1,022)
Black3.7%(54)
Hispanic / Latino25.8%(376)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score54.5%(794)
2024
White, non-Hispanic60.7%(1,002)
Black11.3%(187)
Hispanic / Latino21.6%(357)
Asian3.9%(64)
Other2.5%(42)
Diversity Score71.3%(1,178)
Diversity Score
71
+31%since 2000
from 55 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
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%
Graduate degree
10.4%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 7.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.0 min
+26%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
61.4%
−19.3 ptssince 2009
from 80.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
30.0%
+19.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.4%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
19.1%
+5.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.9%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 6.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
46.3%
−12.4 ptssince 2011
from 58.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.4%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
39.1%
−16.5 ptssince 2009
from 55.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
56.6%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
Female
43.4%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
Foreign born
11.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.4%
−45.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
24.5%
+5.5 ptssince 2012
from 19.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.4%
−66.2 ptssince 2013
from 78.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.1%
+28.2 ptssince 2017
from 54.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
78.9%
−11.0 ptssince 2016
from 89.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
15.6%
+5.5 ptssince 2016
from 10.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Dobson

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Places similar to Dobson
Head to head

Compare Dobson to nearby cities

DOBSON VS
Mount Airy
Income$40,275−8%
Home value$181,900+5%
Population10,682+625%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DOBSON VS
Lewisville
Income$100,917+131%
Home value$325,400+87%
Population14,421+878%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DOBSON VS
Clemmons
Income$87,655+100%
Home value$335,800+93%
Population22,808+1447%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DOBSON VS
Winston-Salem
Income$59,268+35%
Home value$233,800+34%
Population257,271+17354%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
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 →

Dobson, North Carolina: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy