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CITY

Oriental

North Carolina · 909 residents (2025 est.) · 1.43 sq mi
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The short version

Oriental has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $57,880. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 51% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $422,900. With a median age of 69.6, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. 51% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, well above the US average, yet household income trails the national figure — a profile common to graduate-student tracts and academic hubs.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 69.6
US median: 38.9
More educated
51% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 38%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
873
Unchangedsince 2000
from 875 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
610 / sq mi
+1%since 2009
from 603 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
69.6
+22%since 2000
from 57.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:909 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7848449049631K1990201020202024Oriental
2024873
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 50.6%(5)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 90.3%(3)
US avg: 6%
10 to 140.6%(5)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 190.6%(5)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 240%(0)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 340.6%(5)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 442.1%(18)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 546.3%(55)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6418.3%(160)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7445.4%(396)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 8419.8%(173)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over5.5%(48)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$57,880
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,794 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$48,805
+88%since 2000
from $25,949 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 39.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
7.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 8.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.429
−8%since 2010
from 0.465 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services2.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade1.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration1%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Finance & insurance0%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical0%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$422,900
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $168,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,138
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $563 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
84.4%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 80.2% in 2000
15.6% rent
Vacancy rate
28.0%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 25.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
27.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
60.9%
+40.6 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
7.3
+28%since 2009
from 5.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
12
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Oriental on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.5%(792)
Black7.3%(64)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(12)
Asian0.3%(3)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.1%(795)
Black0.8%(7)
Hispanic / Latino6.5%(57)
Asian0.8%(7)
Other0.8%(7)
Diversity Score
21
+118%since 2009
from 10 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
Mexican3.1%(27)
Cuban2.1%(18)
Peruvian0.6%(5)
Asian origin
Thai0.5%(4)
Japanese0.3%(3)
Ancestry
English29.6%(258)
German20.7%(181)
American12.7%(111)
Irish12.1%(106)
Scotch-Irish3.8%(33)
Scottish3.3%(29)
Polish3.1%(27)
Italian2.7%(24)
French2.6%(23)
Greek2.5%(22)
Norwegian1.6%(14)
Swedish1.5%(13)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.7%(6)
Swiss0.7%(6)
Arab0.5%(4)
Lebanese0.5%(4)
Lithuanian0.5%(4)
Welsh0.3%(3)
Austrian0.2%(2)
British0.2%(2)
Turkish0.2%(2)
Czech0.1%(1)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest Scotch-Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
51.0%
+15.8 ptssince 2000
from 35.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.9%
+8.8 ptssince 2000
from 89.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
29.1%
+16.0 ptssince 2000
from 13.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.6 min
Unchangedsince 2000
from 21.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
62.9%
−6.6 ptssince 2009
from 69.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
1.0%
−7.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
23.7%
+16.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
2.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.7%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2011
from 1.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
23.6%
−27.7 ptssince 2011
from 51.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.3%
−8.8 ptssince 2009
from 18.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.9%
−30.2 ptssince 2009
from 69.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
44.0%
−10.1 ptssince 2009
from 54.1% in 2009
Female
56.0%
+10.1 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
Foreign born
7.3%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
21.7%
−31.8 ptssince 2009
from 53.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.0%
−3.0 ptssince 2012
from 19.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.5%
−86.1 ptssince 2013
from 90.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.3%
+17.2 ptssince 2017
from 78.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.1%
−4.2 ptssince 2016
from 96.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.3%
+4.4 ptssince 2016
from 2.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married5.1%(19)
Married75.3%(283)
Widowed9.3%(35)
Divorced10.4%(39)
Women 15+
Never married5%(24)
Married60.1%(291)
Widowed16.5%(80)
Divorced18.4%(89)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Oriental to nearby cities

ORIENTAL VS
Havelock
Income$58,408+1%
Home value$207,700−51%
Population17,430+1817%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ORIENTAL VS
Morehead City
Income$56,233−3%
Home value$357,400−15%
Population10,434+1048%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ORIENTAL VS
New Bern
Income$61,031+5%
Home value$240,100−43%
Population34,724+3720%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ORIENTAL VS
Piney Green
Income$72,177+25%
Home value$227,600−46%
Population14,078+1449%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Oriental, North Carolina?

Oriental, North Carolina has about 873 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Oriental, North Carolina earns about $57,880 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Oriental, North Carolina expensive?

In Oriental, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $422,900, and the typical rent is about $1,138 a month.

How educated are people in Oriental, North Carolina?

About 51.0% of adults age 25 and over in Oriental, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Oriental, North Carolina?

About 7.7% of people in Oriental, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Oriental, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Oriental, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 69 residents, a change of about 9 percent over that period.

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

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