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CITY

Northwest

North Carolina · 1,096 residents (2025 est.) · 7.171 sq mi
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The short version

Northwest has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,214. Population has grown 32% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $225,900. With a median age of 51.5, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 26% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 51.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 72%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
885
+32%since 2000
from 671 in 2000
2000 – 2025
Population density
123 / sq mi
+24%since 2009
from 100 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
51.5
+30%since 2000
from 39.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,096 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 2000 – 2024
6157548941K1K2000201020202024Northwest
2024885
2000201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.1%(36)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.1%(36)
US avg: 6%
10 to 142.8%(25)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.6%(41)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 248.6%(76)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.4%(110)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 449.2%(81)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.7%(112)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416%(142)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7417.6%(156)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.9%(52)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2%(18)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,214
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,250 in 2000
US average: $82,259
2000 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,342
+91%since 2000
from $16,419 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.9%
+10.8 ptssince 2009
from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 17.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.397
+6%since 2010
from 0.373 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade16%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services11.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance8.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration7.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services6%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food5%
US avg: 1.9%
Retail trade3.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Information2.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$225,900
+72%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $71,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
2000 – 2024
Median gross rent
$825
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $406 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
89.3%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 82.3% in 2000
10.7% rent
Vacancy rate
7.3%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
38.9%
+5.2 ptssince 2009
from 33.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.0%
+35.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.2
+66%since 2009
from 2.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
66
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Northwest on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic26.5%(178)
Black71.8%(482)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(5)
Asian0.3%(2)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic35.4%(313)
Black54.8%(485)
Hispanic / Latino5%(44)
Asian0.7%(6)
Other4.2%(37)
Diversity Score
71
+13%since 2009
from 63 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican4.3%(38)
Argentine0.7%(6)
Asian origin
Cambodian0.7%(6)
Ancestry
English12.8%(113)
Dutch4.5%(40)
American4.2%(37)
German2.9%(26)
Irish1.9%(17)
French0.3%(3)
Scottish0.3%(3)
Jamaican0.3%(3)
+ 1 more ancestry group with data
Welsh0.1%(1)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest Dutch population · Largest Mexican population · Largest American population · Largest Subsaharan African population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.8%
+15.7 ptssince 2000
from 10.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.7%
+24.2 ptssince 2000
from 68.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.7%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 2.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.9 min
+23%since 2000
from 17.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.1%
−9.6 ptssince 2009
from 89.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
3.7%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
14.4%
+14.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% 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
1.5%
−9.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
10.3%
−5.0 ptssince 2011
from 15.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
54.1%
−5.9 ptssince 2011
from 59.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
22.8%
+9.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.7%
−12.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
37.1%
−9.9 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
Female
62.9%
+9.9 ptssince 2009
from 53.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.4%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.9%
−40.4 ptssince 2009
from 46.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
23.6%
+2.9 ptssince 2012
from 20.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.0%
−74.8 ptssince 2013
from 86.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
81.7%
+25.4 ptssince 2017
from 56.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 97.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.0%
+1.4 ptssince 2016
from 0.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married28.1%(81)
Married59.4%(171)
Widowed6.3%(18)
Divorced6.3%(18)
Women 15+
Never married32%(160)
Married33.8%(169)
Widowed20%(100)
Divorced14.2%(71)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 1,024
Places similar to Northwest
Head to head

Compare Northwest to nearby cities

NORTHWEST VS
Leland
Income$91,977+73%
Home value$398,900+77%
Population35,731+3160%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NORTHWEST VS
Wilmington
Income$66,738+25%
Home value$383,800+70%
Population126,809+11470%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NORTHWEST VS
Kings Grant
Income$62,232+17%
Home value$300,700+33%
Population9,003+721%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NORTHWEST VS
Murraysville
Income$81,167+53%
Home value$320,700+42%
Population16,339+1391%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Northwest, North Carolina?

Northwest, North Carolina has about 885 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Northwest, North Carolina earns about $53,214 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Northwest, North Carolina expensive?

In Northwest, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $225,900, and the typical rent is about $825 a month.

How educated are people in Northwest, North Carolina?

About 25.8% of adults age 25 and over in Northwest, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Northwest, North Carolina?

About 19.1% of people in Northwest, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →