CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Oriental

North Carolina · 804 residents · 1.43 sq mi

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The short version

Oriental is home to 804 people in North Carolina. At a median age of 50.9, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 79% of homes are owner-occupied. 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 17.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line. There are 71 fewer people here than in 2000.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $30,130

Older

median age 50.9

US median: 33.0

More educated

31% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

More affordable

home values down 19%, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

804

−8%vs 2000

vs 875 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

50.9

−11%vs 2000

vs 57.2 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

1.43 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

2024873

Age distribution, 1990

Under 58%(64)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 93.9%(31)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 143%(24)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 193.6%(29)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 244.1%(33)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 349.2%(74)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4412.4%(100)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 5410.3%(83)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 6418.5%(149)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 7418.3%(147)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 846.5%(52)

US avg: 4%

85 and over2.2%(18)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$26,339

−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $37,794 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$14,719

−43%vs 2000

vs $25,949 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

17.2%

+8.7 ptsvs 2000

vs 8.4% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$104,000

−19%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $168,800 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$430

+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $563 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

79.3%

−0.9 ptsvs 2000

vs 80.2% in 2000

20.7% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic90.5%(792)

Black7.3%(64)

Hispanic / Latino1.4%(12)

Asian0.3%(3)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic87.2%(701)

Black12.8%(103)

Hispanic / Latino0%(0)

Asian0%(0)

Other0%(0)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

Hispanic origin

Mexican3.1%(27)

Cuban2.1%(18)

South American0.6%(5)

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

French Canadian0.9%(8)

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

30.8%

−4.4 ptsvs 2000

vs 35.2% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

86.5%

−2.6 ptsvs 2000

vs 89.1% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

11.7%

−1.4 ptsvs 2000

vs 13.2% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

23.6 min

+9%vs 2000

vs 21.6 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

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

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

4.5%

−4.9 ptssince 2013

from 9.4% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

31.6%

−6.3 ptssince 2020

from 37.9% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

49.5%

+5.6 ptssince 2020

from 43.9% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

71.2%

+16.2 ptssince 2020

from 55.0% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

3.9%

+1.2 ptssince 2020

from 2.7% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

7.1%

+5.4 ptssince 2020

from 1.7% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

77.0%

−3.5 ptssince 2020

from 80.5% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

74.0%

+16.2 ptssince 2020

from 57.8% 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)7.1%(13)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)25%(46)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era56%(103)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War8.7%(16)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II0%(0)

US avg: 1%

Share of the 184 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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