CensusEasy
CITY

Goldsboro

North Carolina · 35,012 residents (2025 est.) · 28.59 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Goldsboro metro area
Compare
Notable rankings
#268Fastest shrinkingof 6,642-7.6%
The short version

Goldsboro has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $48,540. Population has declined 12% since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $200,400. The poverty rate of 22.8% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 33% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 32%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
34,383
−12%since 2000
from 39,043 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,203 / sq mi
−12%since 2000
from 1,366 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.8
+7%since 2000
from 34.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:35,012 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
32K35K37K39K41K1990201020202024Goldsboro
202434K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$48,540
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,456 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,497
+84%since 2000
from $16,614 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
29.6%
+13.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
22.8%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.489
+2%since 2010
from 0.480 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade12.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance5.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration3.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$200,400
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $83,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$971
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $451 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
36.3%
−6.3 ptssince 2000
from 42.5% in 2000
63.7% rent
Vacancy rate
12.4%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.2%
−9.1 ptssince 2009
from 27.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.4%
+7.3 ptssince 2009
from 40.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.1
+46%since 2000
from 2.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
44
RELATED:See current rent listings in Goldsboro on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic41.9%(16,346)
Black52%(20,295)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(1,052)
Asian1.4%(556)
Other0%
Diversity Score66.9%(26,103)
2024
White, non-Hispanic34.2%(11,775)
Black52.5%(18,036)
Hispanic / Latino6.1%(2,087)
Asian1.6%(558)
Other5.6%(1,927)
Diversity Score75.1%(25,807)
Diversity Score
75
+12%since 2000
from 67 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.0%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 17.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.1%
+10.8 ptssince 2000
from 76.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 6.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.3 min
+50%since 2000
from 12.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 81.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.0%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.8%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.4%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
15.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.0%
−6.5 ptssince 2011
from 14.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2011
from 56.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.6%
−36.4 ptssince 2009
from 68.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 46.3% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 53.7% in 2009
Foreign born
4.3%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
11.6%
−31.4 ptssince 2009
from 43.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
20.6%
+4.2 ptssince 2012
from 16.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.9%
−79.0 ptssince 2013
from 86.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.7%
+17.3 ptssince 2017
from 68.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 90.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 4.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Goldsboro

Lauderdale Lakes
Pop 36,898
Dania Beach
Pop 32,791
Egypt Lake-Leto
Pop 35,873
Leesburg
Pop 38,905
Places similar to Goldsboro
Head to head

Compare Goldsboro to nearby cities

GOLDSBORO VS
Kinston
Income$36,878−24%
Home value$119,300−40%
Population19,705−44%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GOLDSBORO VS
Smithfield
Income$43,270−11%
Home value$242,500+21%
Population13,114−63%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GOLDSBORO VS
Wilson
Income$52,485+8%
Home value$210,700+5%
Population49,572+42%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GOLDSBORO VS
Clayton
Income$78,822+62%
Home value$329,600+64%
Population32,633−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Goldsboro, North Carolina?

Goldsboro, North Carolina has about 34,383 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Goldsboro, North Carolina earns about $48,540 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Goldsboro, North Carolina expensive?

In Goldsboro, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $200,400, and the typical rent is about $971 a month.

How educated are people in Goldsboro, North Carolina?

About 21.0% of adults age 25 and over in Goldsboro, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Goldsboro, North Carolina?

About 22.8% of people in Goldsboro, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Goldsboro, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Goldsboro, North Carolina has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 6,326 residents, a change of about -16 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
North Carolina
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Goldsboro with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →

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