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CITY

Drexel

North Carolina · 1,764 residents (2025 est.) · 1.38 sq mi
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The short version

With 2,146 people, Drexel is a city in North Carolina. At a median age of 47.2, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Median rent is $590 a month. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $214,400. The foreign-born share is 5%.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 48%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

2,146
+11%since 2000
from 1,938 in 2000
1,764 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
1,553 / sq mi
−2%since 2009
from 1,589 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
47.2
+24%since 2000
from 38.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
1.38 sq mi
Population, 19902024
2K2K2K2K2K19902000201020202024Drexel
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55%(108)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.5%(117)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148.4%(180)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.2%(91)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.3%(71)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.3%(286)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 448%(172)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.3%(264)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6417.9%(384)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7415.6%(335)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.2%(69)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.2%(69)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$61,992
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,086 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
$32,950
+78%since 2000
from $18,463 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.6%
+17.6 ptssince 2009
from 16.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
11.7%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 7.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
0.449
+12%since 2010
from 0.401 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade28.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services6.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance2.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade1.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$214,400
+48%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
$590
−25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $433 in 2000
US average: $1,442
72.0%
+5.2 ptssince 2000
from 66.8% in 2000
28.0% rent
8.0%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.36 people
−1%since 2009
from 2.38 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
13.8%
−16.0 ptssince 2009
from 29.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
27.7%
−27.8 ptssince 2009
from 55.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
3.5
+3%since 2009
from 3.4 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.
53
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic84.2%(1,632)
Black3.9%(75)
Hispanic / Latino4%(77)
Asian7%(135)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic80.3%(1,724)
Black1.7%(37)
Hispanic / Latino9%(194)
Asian2.6%(56)
Other6.3%(135)
43
+35%since 2009
from 32 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
Mexican3.3%(70)
Peruvian0.5%(11)
Asian origin
Cambodian2.1%(44)
Hmong0.6%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American18.2%(391)
Irish12.7%(273)
English10.9%(234)
German10.5%(225)
Dutch3.2%(69)
Scottish2.3%(50)
Polish1.1%(24)
Italian0.9%(20)
Canadian0.6%(12)
Norwegian0.5%(10)
French0.3%(6)
+ 4 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.2%(5)
Arab0.1%(2)
Egyptian0.1%(2)
Section 05

Education

23.2%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 18.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.2%
+14.9 ptssince 2000
from 69.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
8.5%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

20.2 min
+78%since 2000
from 11.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
83.4%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 88.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
11.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
5.7%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
0.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
4.5%
−16.5 ptssince 2009
from 21.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

13.7%
+8.1 ptssince 2011
from 5.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
53.9%
−7.6 ptssince 2011
from 61.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
66.2%
−11.0 ptssince 2020
from 77.2% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
20.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
43.3%
+12.5 ptssince 2009
from 30.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

46.6%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 40.9% in 2009
53.4%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 59.1% in 2009
5.0%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
3.5%
−8.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
17.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2012
from 16.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
9.0%
−5.2 ptssince 2013
from 14.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
89.2%
+23.5 ptssince 2017
from 65.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
90.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2020
from 90.3% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
87.1%
−2.6 ptssince 2020
from 89.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
89.0%
−0.8 ptssince 2016
from 89.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
7.5%
+5.4 ptssince 2016
from 2.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married26%(196)
Married60.8%(458)
Widowed6.9%(52)
Divorced6.2%(47)
Women 15+
Never married21.5%(212)
Married45.7%(452)
Widowed16.4%(162)
Divorced16.4%(162)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

9.0%
−5.2 ptssince 2013
from 14.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
46.8%
−8.3 ptssince 2020
from 55.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
10.2%
−2.5 ptssince 2020
from 12.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
24.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2020
from 24.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
33.6%
+16.1 ptssince 2020
from 17.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2020
from 3.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
53.4%
−13.3 ptssince 2020
from 66.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
54.3%
+15.4 ptssince 2020
from 38.9% 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)0%(0)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)0%(0)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era63.3%(38)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War11.7%(7)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 60 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 Drexel, North Carolina?

Drexel, North Carolina has about 2,146 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Drexel, North Carolina earns about $61,992 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Drexel, North Carolina expensive?

In Drexel, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $214,400, and the typical rent is about $590 a month.

How educated are people in Drexel, North Carolina?

About 23.2% of adults age 25 and over in Drexel, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Drexel, North Carolina?

About 11.7% of people in Drexel, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Drexel, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Drexel, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 400 residents, a change of about 23 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 →