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CITY

Salisbury

North Carolina · 36,879 residents (2025 est.) · 22.95 sq mi
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The short version

Salisbury has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,716. Population has grown 35% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $242,500. The poverty rate of 26.3% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 26% less than the North Carolina median.

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

Total population
35,825
+35%since 2000
from 26,462 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,561 / sq mi
+35%since 2000
from 1,153 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.5
−2%since 2000
from 37.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:36,879 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
22K26K29K33K37K1990201020202024Salisbury
202436K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,716
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,923 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,043
+70%since 2000
from $18,864 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.9%
+13.1 ptssince 2009
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
26.3%
+10.3 ptssince 2000
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.518
+3%since 2010
from 0.502 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade12.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing3.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0.1%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$242,500
+45%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $91,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,071
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $506 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
51.8%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 53.5% in 2000
48.2% rent
Vacancy rate
10.2%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
50.4%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 44.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.5
+62%since 2000
from 2.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
57
RELATED:See current rent listings in Salisbury on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic55.4%(14,650)
Black37.3%(9,874)
Hispanic / Latino4.3%(1,138)
Asian1.4%(365)
Other0%
Diversity Score67.1%(17,767)
2024
White, non-Hispanic49.1%(17,589)
Black35%(12,536)
Hispanic / Latino11.5%(4,106)
Asian1%(372)
Other3.4%(1,222)
Diversity Score77.8%(27,858)
Diversity Score
78
+16%since 2000
from 67 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.9%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 24.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.1%
+11.3 ptssince 2000
from 75.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
12.1%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 6.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.8 min
+62%since 2000
from 13.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.2%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 79.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.7%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.7%
+6.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
13.4%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.8%
−6.0 ptssince 2011
from 11.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.2%
+3.4 ptssince 2011
from 51.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.7%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.1%
−25.1 ptssince 2009
from 62.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
50.5%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
6.4%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.6%
−41.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.0%
+1.5 ptssince 2012
from 14.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.7%
−74.0 ptssince 2013
from 81.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.9%
+19.9 ptssince 2017
from 67.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
88.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 88.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
8.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 9.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Salisbury to nearby cities

SALISBURY VS
Lexington
Income$43,128−20%
Home value$179,900−26%
Population20,238−45%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALISBURY VS
Kannapolis
Income$73,836+37%
Home value$276,400+14%
Population61,708+67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALISBURY VS
Mooresville
Income$89,647+67%
Home value$390,900+61%
Population55,842+51%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALISBURY VS
Concord
Income$86,921+62%
Home value$353,700+46%
Population114,598+211%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
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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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →