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COUNTY

Bladen County

North Carolina · 30,007 residents (2025 est.) · 875.032 sq mi
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The short version

Bladen County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $42,422. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $135,100. With a median age of 44.7, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 41% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 33%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
29,566
−8%since 2000
from 32,278 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
34 / sq mi
−9%since 2009
from 37 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
44.7
+18%since 2000
from 37.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:30,007 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
28K30K32K34K36K1990201020202024Bladen County
202430K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55%(1,467)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.5%(1,628)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.4%(1,904)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.2%(1,821)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245%(1,464)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.7%(3,155)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.5%(3,412)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.1%(3,565)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.3%(4,215)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7414.1%(4,163)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.2%(2,115)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.2%(657)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$42,422
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,877 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,713
+88%since 2000
from $14,735 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.1%
+16.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
22.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 21.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.494
+3%since 2010
from 0.480 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Wholesale trade7.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Construction7.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance6.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$135,100
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $55,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$773
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $350 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.2%
−8.6 ptssince 2000
from 77.8% in 2000
30.8% rent
Vacancy rate
22.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 20.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.9%
−7.3 ptssince 2009
from 29.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
37.1%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 38.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+34%since 2009
from 2.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
54
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bladen County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic55.9%(18,035)
Black37.7%(12,170)
Hispanic / Latino3.7%(1,198)
Asian0.1%(26)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic53.4%(15,790)
Black32.1%(9,495)
Hispanic / Latino9.3%(2,752)
Asian0.2%(47)
Other5%(1,482)
Diversity Score
75
+6%since 2009
from 71 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
20
−33%since 2020
from 30 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican3.9%(1,154)
Honduran1.7%(513)
Guatemalan1.2%(356)
Puerto Rican0.8%(240)
Dominican0.5%(148)
Colombian0.3%(77)
Cuban0.3%(74)
Salvadoran0.1%(39)
Nicaraguan0.1%(19)
Asian origin
Korean0.1%(41)
Ancestry
American21.6%(6,379)
English6.7%(1,995)
Irish3.6%(1,075)
Scottish2.5%(741)
German1.9%(564)
Scotch-Irish1.8%(535)
French0.9%(279)
Italian0.5%(158)
Polish0.5%(154)
British0.3%(79)
Swedish0.2%(56)
+ 14 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.1%(42)
Canadian0.1%(37)
Norwegian0.1%(32)
Czech0.1%(27)
Greek0.1%(18)
Slovak0.1%(16)
Dutch0%(14)
Hungarian0%(11)
Haitian0%(8)
Danish0%(6)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Mexican population · Largest Irish population · Largest Central American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.5%
+8.2 ptssince 2000
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.6%
+18.0 ptssince 2000
from 70.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.9%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 3.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.3 min
+49%since 2000
from 19.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.4%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 77.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.1%
−5.2 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.1%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.8%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.4%
−6.2 ptssince 2011
from 11.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
49.5%
−5.5 ptssince 2011
from 55.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.8%
−30.5 ptssince 2009
from 59.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
51.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
3.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.1%
−38.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.9%
−5.1 ptssince 2012
from 21.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.2%
−71.4 ptssince 2013
from 81.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.1%
+24.6 ptssince 2017
from 60.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 92.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 6.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married35.2%(4,118)
Married49.9%(5,832)
Widowed4.2%(488)
Divorced10.7%(1,250)
Women 15+
Never married28.6%(3,685)
Married44%(5,666)
Widowed13.4%(1,732)
Divorced13.9%(1,796)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Bladen County to nearby counties

BLADEN COUNTY VS
Columbus County
Income$49,442+17%
Home value$146,000+8%
Population50,487+68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BLADEN COUNTY VS
Sampson County
Income$52,432+24%
Home value$150,700+12%
Population61,504+105%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BLADEN COUNTY VS
Robeson County
Income$41,978−1%
Home value$94,500−30%
Population119,941+300%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BLADEN COUNTY VS
Cumberland County
Income$61,291+44%
Home value$199,200+47%
Population338,473+1028%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Bladen County, North Carolina?

Bladen County, North Carolina has about 29,566 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Bladen County, North Carolina?

The typical household in Bladen County, North Carolina earns about $42,422 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bladen County, North Carolina expensive?

In Bladen County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $135,100, and the typical rent is about $773 a month.

How educated are people in Bladen County, North Carolina?

About 19.5% of adults age 25 and over in Bladen County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bladen County, North Carolina?

About 22.0% of people in Bladen County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bladen County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Bladen County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 903 residents, a change of about 3 percent over that period.

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11 census tracts
Census Tract 9505.02Census Tract 9504.01Census Tract 9503.02Census Tract 9506.01Census Tract 9503.01Census Tract 9501.01Census Tract 9502Census Tract 9501.02Census Tract 9504.02Census Tract 9505.01Census Tract 9506.02
9 ZIP codes
ZIP 28337ZIP 28320ZIP 28433ZIP 28399ZIP 28392ZIP 28447ZIP 28448ZIP 28434ZIP 28332
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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