CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Smithfield

North Carolina · 7,540 residents · 12.7 sq mi

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The short version

Smithfield is home to 7,540 people in North Carolina. The median age is 38.5, about 5 years above the US median. The population has fallen 34% since 2000. Owners hold 55% of the housing stock. The typical home is worth $59,600. That trails the North Carolina median by roughly 19%.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $30,130

Older

median age 38.5

US median: 33.0

Average education

20% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

More affordable

home values down 18%, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

7,540

−34%vs 2000

vs 11,510 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

38.5

−1%vs 2000

vs 38.9 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

12.7 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

202412K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 56.6%(498)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 95.6%(426)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 146.7%(505)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 196%(449)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 246.8%(516)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3413.4%(1,008)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4413.6%(1,028)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 5411.5%(865)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 6410%(755)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 7411.4%(857)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 846.4%(483)

US avg: 4%

85 and over2%(150)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$21,559

+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $27,813 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$15,004

−17%vs 2000

vs $18,012 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

17.5%

−3.1 ptsvs 2000

vs 20.6% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$59,600

−18%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $96,100 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$336

−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $492 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

54.9%

+1.5 ptsvs 2000

vs 53.5% in 2000

45.1% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic57.4%(6,611)

Black30.9%(3,554)

Hispanic / Latino9.9%(1,140)

Asian0.6%(73)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic62.7%(4,730)

Black35.5%(2,675)

Hispanic / Latino1.8%(132)

Asian0.9%(71)

Other0.8%(64)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

Hispanic origin

Mexican8.1%(978)

Central American3.6%(433)

Honduran2.8%(340)

Puerto Rican0.9%(110)

Guatemalan0.5%(56)

Cuban0.4%(50)

Dominican0.4%(46)

Salvadoran0.2%(21)

Panamanian0.1%(16)

Asian origin

Korean0.5%(64)

Filipino0.3%(33)

Vietnamese0.3%(31)

Chinese0.2%(29)

Ancestry

English17.1%(2,072)

American11.9%(1,446)

German7.1%(859)

Irish6.7%(813)

Italian1.6%(197)

Scottish1.6%(188)

Scotch-Irish1.4%(171)

French0.9%(112)

Swiss0.8%(98)

Subsaharan African0.7%(80)

Austrian0.3%(41)

Greek0.3%(41)

+ 12 more ancestry groups with data

Dutch0.3%(39)

Canadian0.3%(35)

Danish0.3%(35)

Norwegian0.3%(35)

Polish0.3%(33)

Swedish0.2%(24)

British0.1%(15)

French Canadian0.1%(12)

Finnish0.1%(11)

West Indian0.1%(9)

Barbadian0.1%(9)

Israeli0%(2)

RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

19.9%

+1.6 ptsvs 2000

vs 18.3% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

65.9%

−3.4 ptsvs 2000

vs 69.4% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

5.5%

−0.4 ptsvs 2000

vs 5.9% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

17.6 min

Unchangedvs 2000

vs 17.6 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 married32.8%(1,639)

Married45.2%(2,258)

Widowed5.7%(285)

Divorced16.2%(809)

Women 15+

Never married29.9%(1,469)

Married47.1%(2,310)

Widowed11.6%(570)

Divorced11.4%(558)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

10.0%

−8.8 ptssince 2013

from 18.8% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

38.6%

−0.6 ptssince 2020

from 39.2% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

18.8%

+3.7 ptssince 2020

from 15.1% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

26.5%

+3.0 ptssince 2020

from 23.5% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

27.6%

−0.9 ptssince 2020

from 28.5% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

4.9%

+0.4 ptssince 2020

from 4.5% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

55.7%

+3.1 ptssince 2020

from 52.6% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

47.8%

+0.1 ptssince 2020

from 47.7% 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)28.5%(213)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)13%(97)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era40.2%(301)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War2.3%(17)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II0%(0)

US avg: 1%

Share of the 748 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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