CensusEasy
CITY

Northwest

North Carolina · 1,096 residents (2025 est.) · 7.17 sq mi
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The short version

Northwest is a city of 885 people in North Carolina. At a median age of 51.5, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Owners hold 89% of the housing stock. Growth has run 32% since 2000, or 214 more people. 2% of locals were born outside the United States. 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

885
+32%since 2000
from 671 in 2000
1,096 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
2000 – 2025
123 / sq mi
+24%since 2009
from 100 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
51.5
+30%since 2000
from 39.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
7.17 sq mi
Population, 20002024
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

$53,214
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,250 in 2000
US average: $82,259
2000 – 2024
$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%
19.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 17.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
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

$225,900
+72%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $71,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
2000 – 2024
$825
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $406 in 2000
US average: $1,442
89.3%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 82.3% in 2000
10.7% rent
7.3%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
1.92 people
−20%since 2009
from 2.40 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
38.9%
+5.2 ptssince 2009
from 33.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
49.0%
+35.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
4.2
+66%since 2009
from 2.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
66
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
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)
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)
Section 05

Education

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%
9.7%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 2.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

20.9 min
+23%since 2000
from 17.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
80.1%
−9.6 ptssince 2009
from 89.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
3.7%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
14.4%
+14.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
0.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
1.5%
−9.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

10.3%
−5.0 ptssince 2011
from 15.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
54.1%
−5.9 ptssince 2011
from 59.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
59.0%
−7.0 ptssince 2020
from 66.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
22.8%
+9.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
38.7%
+19.9 ptssince 2009
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

37.1%
−9.9 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
62.9%
+9.9 ptssince 2009
from 53.1% in 2009
2.4%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
5.9%
−9.6 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
23.6%
+2.9 ptssince 2012
from 20.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
12.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2013
from 13.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
81.7%
+25.4 ptssince 2017
from 56.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
88.9%
+4.7 ptssince 2020
from 84.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
92.3%
−4.2 ptssince 2020
from 96.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
97.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 97.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
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
Section 09

Health coverage

12.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2013
from 13.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
47.3%
+3.5 ptssince 2020
from 43.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
18.5%
+2.7 ptssince 2020
from 15.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
26.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2020
from 27.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
25.0%
−7.5 ptssince 2020
from 32.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
0.8%
−2.7 ptssince 2020
from 3.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
61.4%
+3.9 ptssince 2020
from 57.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
47.9%
−5.6 ptssince 2020
from 53.5% 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)6.7%(3)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)33.3%(15)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era46.7%(21)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War6.7%(3)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 45 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
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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 →