CensusEasy
CITY

Lake Lure

North Carolina · 1,391 residents (2025 est.) · 13.166 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Forest City micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Lake Lure has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $80,357. The city has grown rapidly, with population up 50% since 2000. 58% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $627,000. With a median age of 61.7, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 61.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
58% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 75%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,543
+50%since 2000
from 1,027 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
117 / sq mi
+50%since 2000
from 78 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
61.7
+5%since 2000
from 58.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,391 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6649131K1K2K1990201020202024Lake Lure
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$80,357
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,417 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$67,470
+188%since 2000
from $23,459 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
50.8%
+16.3 ptssince 2009
from 34.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 10.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.521
+10%since 2010
from 0.476 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services15.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade7.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Information7.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade6.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration4.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food3.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Finance & insurance0.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical0.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$627,000
+75%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $196,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$786
−23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $564 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
88.1%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 86.5% in 2000
11.9% rent
Vacancy rate
66.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 66.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
34.6%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 30.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
24.5%
−13.3 ptssince 2009
from 37.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
7.8
+52%since 2000
from 5.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
57
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lake Lure on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.2%(998)
Black1.5%(15)
Hispanic / Latino0.1%(1)
Asian0.3%(3)
Other0%
Diversity Score4.6%(47)
2024
White, non-Hispanic84.4%(1,302)
Black1%(16)
Hispanic / Latino7.1%(110)
Asian0%(0)
Other7.5%(115)
Diversity Score34.7%(535)
Diversity Score
35
+654%since 2000
from 5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
57.8%
+23.8 ptssince 2000
from 34.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.3%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 93.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
20.4%
+9.9 ptssince 2000
from 10.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
39.3 min
+93%since 2000
from 20.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
59.1%
−13.8 ptssince 2009
from 72.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.5%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
29.0%
+14.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% 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
1.9%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.3%
−10.0 ptssince 2011
from 16.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
41.9%
−5.6 ptssince 2011
from 47.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.3%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
58.3%
−8.9 ptssince 2009
from 67.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
44.5%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
55.5%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
5.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
11.7%
−34.9 ptssince 2009
from 46.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.2%
−2.0 ptssince 2012
from 17.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.9%
−73.1 ptssince 2013
from 83.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.5%
+7.8 ptssince 2017
from 82.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 94.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.7%
+3.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Lake Lure

Pine Lakes
Pop 1,437
Keystone Heights
Pop 1,579
Key Vista
Pop 1,418
Molino
Pop 1,447
Places similar to Lake Lure
Head to head

Compare Lake Lure to nearby cities

LAKE LURE VS
Black Mountain
Income$77,042−4%
Home value$358,900−43%
Population8,491+510%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE LURE VS
Hendersonville
Income$53,449−33%
Home value$317,000−49%
Population15,867+1041%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE LURE VS
Fletcher
Income$75,272−6%
Home value$331,100−47%
Population8,373+502%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE LURE VS
Asheville
Income$71,102−12%
Home value$440,000−30%
Population93,523+6623%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lake Lure, North Carolina?

Lake Lure, North Carolina has about 1,543 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Lake Lure, North Carolina?

The typical household in Lake Lure, North Carolina earns about $80,357 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lake Lure, North Carolina expensive?

In Lake Lure, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $627,000, and the typical rent is about $786 a month.

How educated are people in Lake Lure, North Carolina?

About 57.8% of adults age 25 and over in Lake Lure, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lake Lure, North Carolina?

About 11.5% of people in Lake Lure, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lake Lure, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Lake Lure, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 796 residents, a change of about 107 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

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

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

How we source and harmonize this data →