United States › North Carolina › Lenoir CITY
Lenoir North Carolina · 18,372 residents (2025 est.) · 20.8 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 18,299 people, Lenoir is a city in North Carolina. The median age is 45.7, about 7 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 21% of adults. The typical home is worth $179,400, having more than doubled since 2000. That trails the North Carolina median by roughly 31%. Renters pay $664 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 45.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 31%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 16,793 in 2000
18,372 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 856 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 39.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
14K 15K 16K 18K 19K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Lenoir Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $49,910
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,369 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $16,697 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 14.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.470 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 5.2%
Public administration 3.5%
Transportation & warehousing 3.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.7%
Education & health services 0.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$179,400
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $75,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$664
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $435 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 63.1% in 2000
35.8% rent
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.30 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 38.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.3 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 79.2%(13,305)
Hispanic / Latino 4.3%(714)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 73.2%(13,394)
Hispanic / Latino 13.2%(2,421)
from 49 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data Ancestry
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 65.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 84.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 14.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 53.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 60.8% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 27.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 20.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 17.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 68.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 80.1% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 85.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 93.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 5.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Women 15+
Never married 24.9%(2,105)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 17.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 39.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 13.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 23.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 25.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 51.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 45.7% 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) 32.2%(320)
Share of the 994 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Lenoir Head to head
Compare Lenoir to nearby cities LENOIR VS
Morganton
Income $51,355 +3%
Home value $221,700 +24%
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LENOIR VS
Hickory
Income $64,576 +29%
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LENOIR VS
St. Stephens
Income $60,394 +21%
Home value $213,300 +19%
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LENOIR VS
Conover
Income $65,972 +32%
Home value $271,300 +51%
Population 8,938 −51%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Lenoir, North Carolina? Lenoir, North Carolina has about 18,299 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Lenoir, North Carolina? The typical household in Lenoir, North Carolina earns about $49,910 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Lenoir, North Carolina expensive? In Lenoir, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $179,400, and the typical rent is about $664 a month.
How educated are people in Lenoir, North Carolina? About 21.2% of adults age 25 and over in Lenoir, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Lenoir, North Carolina? About 14.6% of people in Lenoir, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Lenoir, North Carolina grown since 1990? Yes, Lenoir, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,107 residents, a change of about 29 percent over that period.
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