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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Light Oak

North Carolina · 779 residents · 1.44 sq mi
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Part of the Shelby micropolitan area
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The short version

With 779 people, Light Oak is a city in North Carolina. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 1% of adults. The typical home is worth $46,400. The population has fallen 34% since 1990. That trails the North Carolina median by roughly 27%. Households take in $28,472 at the median, 33% less than the US figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 35.8
US median: 35.2
Less educated
1% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 15%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
779
−34%since 1990
from 1,172 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Median age
35.8
+4%since 1990
from 34.4 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
1.44 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
1475369251K2K19902000201020202024Light Oak
2024277
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 57.4%(58)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 97.1%(55)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 145.8%(45)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 196.5%(51)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 246.7%(52)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3414.9%(116)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4412.5%(97)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5415%(117)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 6412.6%(98)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 746.5%(51)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 844%(31)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1%(8)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$28,472
+29%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $16,738 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$13,016
+57%since 1990
from $8,314 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
17.1%
−6.3 ptssince 1990
from 23.4% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$46,400
−15%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $41,500 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$528
+38%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $290 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
72.5%
+2.4 ptssince 1990
from 70.1% in 1990
27.5% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic28.8%(337)
Black70.9%(831)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian0%(0)
2000
White, non-Hispanic16.9%(132)
Black82.2%(640)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian0.5%(4)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican16.6%(46)
Ancestry
American4.7%(13)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
1.5%
−4.2 ptssince 1990
from 5.6% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
73.3%
+13.5 ptssince 1990
from 59.8% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
0.0%
−1.2 ptssince 1990
from 1.2% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.2 min
+12%since 1990
from 13.5 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married20.9%(67)
Married67.5%(216)
Widowed0%(0)
Divorced11.6%(37)
Women 15+
Never married34.9%(98)
Married47.7%(134)
Widowed13.5%(38)
Divorced3.9%(11)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
9.0%
−18.1 ptssince 2013
from 27.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
21.7%
−27.4 ptssince 2020
from 49.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
16.6%
+15.9 ptssince 2020
from 0.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
74.4%
+52.2 ptssince 2020
from 22.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
7.6%
−25.6 ptssince 2020
from 33.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
4.3%
+4.3 ptssince 2020
from 0.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
38.3%
−11.5 ptssince 2020
from 49.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
81.9%
+26.5 ptssince 2020
from 55.4% 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 era0%(0)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 12 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
Drill deeper

Places similar to Light Oak

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Pop 249
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Pop 320
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Pop 323
Places similar to Light Oak
Head to head

Compare Light Oak to nearby cities

LIGHT OAK VS
Shelby
Income$48,376+70%
Home value$197,200+325%
Population23,309+8315%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LIGHT OAK VS
Kings Mountain
Income$49,564+74%
Home value$204,100+340%
Population12,117+4274%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LIGHT OAK VS
Gastonia
Income$64,059+125%
Home value$277,600+498%
Population87,067+31332%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LIGHT OAK VS
Gaffney
Income$41,089+44%
Home value$137,700+197%
Population12,583+4443%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Light Oak, North Carolina?

Light Oak, North Carolina has about 779 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Light Oak, North Carolina?

The typical household in Light Oak, North Carolina earns about $28,472 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Light Oak, North Carolina expensive?

In Light Oak, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $46,400, and the typical rent is about $528 a month.

How educated are people in Light Oak, North Carolina?

About 1.5% of adults age 25 and over in Light Oak, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Light Oak, North Carolina?

About 17.1% of people in Light Oak, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Light Oak, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Light Oak, North Carolina has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 393 residents, a change of about -34 percent over that period.

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

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