United States › North Carolina › Lenoir CITY · 2020 ACS
Lenoir North Carolina · 18,352 residents · 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 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 18,352 people, Lenoir is a city in North Carolina. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 18% of adults. The typical home is worth $110,000. That trails the North Carolina median by roughly 31%. The median household earns $39,116, about 41% below the national median. Median rent is $622 a month.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 39.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
14K 15K 16K 18K 19K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Lenoir Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $39,116
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,369 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $16,697 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 14.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Transportation & warehousing 6.5%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 3.1%
Public administration 1.5%
Education & health services 0.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.1%
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$110,000
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $75,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$622
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $435 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 63.1% in 2000
40.8% rent
from 2.30 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 79.2%(13,305)
Hispanic / Latino 4.3%(714)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 71.6%(13,147)
Hispanic / Latino 11.2%(2,058)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 14 more ancestry groups with data from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 65.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 84.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 14.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 53.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 27.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 17.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
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: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 24.6%(228)
Gulf War (1990s) 19.2%(178)
Share of the 926 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 +31%
Home value $221,700 +102%
Population 17,849 −3%
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LENOIR VS
Hickory
Income $64,576 +65%
Home value $278,400 +153%
Population 45,975 +150%
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LENOIR VS
St. Stephens
Income $60,394 +54%
Home value $213,300 +94%
Population 9,457 −49%
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LENOIR VS
Conover
Income $65,972 +69%
Home value $271,300 +147%
Population 8,938 −51%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Lenoir, North Carolina? Lenoir, North Carolina has about 18,352 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Lenoir, North Carolina? The typical household in Lenoir, North Carolina earns about $39,116 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 $110,000, and the typical rent is about $622 a month.
How educated are people in Lenoir, North Carolina? About 17.6% 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 18.5% 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 4,160 residents, a change of about 29 percent over that period.
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