United States › North Carolina › Salisbury CITY
Salisbury North Carolina · 36,879 residents (2025 est.) · 23.0 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 35,825 people, Salisbury is a city in North Carolina. The poverty rate is 26.3%, above the 12.5% national rate. Owners hold 52% of the housing stock. The population is up 35% since 2000. That trails the North Carolina median by roughly 26%. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $242,500.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 45%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 26,462 in 2000
36,879 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,561 / sq mi
+17%since 2009
from 1,331 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 37.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
22K 26K 29K 33K 37K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Salisbury Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $53,716
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,923 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $18,864 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.502 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 3.6%
Public administration 3.6%
Transportation & warehousing 3.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.8%
Education & health services 0.1%
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$242,500
+45%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $91,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,071
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $506 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 53.5% in 2000
48.2% rent
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.36 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 44.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.3 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 55.4%(14,650)
Hispanic / Latino 4.3%(1,138)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 49.1%(17,589)
Hispanic / Latino 11.5%(4,106)
from 75 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 23 more ancestry groups with data from 24.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 75.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 6.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 79.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 11.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 51.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 73.9% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 30.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 14.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 18.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 67.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 87.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 82.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 88.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 9.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 41.2%(5,740)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 18.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 48.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 13.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 18.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 27.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 59.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 43.8% 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) 25.7%(471)
Gulf War (1990s) 25.7%(471)
Share of the 1,830 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Salisbury Head to head
Compare Salisbury to nearby cities SALISBURY VS
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SALISBURY VS
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SALISBURY VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Salisbury, North Carolina? Salisbury, North Carolina has about 35,825 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Salisbury, North Carolina? The typical household in Salisbury, North Carolina earns about $53,716 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Salisbury, North Carolina expensive? In Salisbury, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $242,500, and the typical rent is about $1,071 a month.
How educated are people in Salisbury, North Carolina? About 29.9% of adults age 25 and over in Salisbury, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Salisbury, North Carolina? About 26.3% of people in Salisbury, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Salisbury, North Carolina grown since 1990? Yes, Salisbury, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 12,738 residents, a change of about 55 percent over that period.
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