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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Columbus County

North Carolina · 50,623 residents · 938 sq mi
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The short version

With 50,623 people, Columbus County is a county in North Carolina. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 13% of adults. The typical home is worth $94,800. The median age is 43.7, about 5 years above the US median. Households here earn about 32% less than in North Carolina as a whole. 3% of people here were born outside the United States.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 43.7
US median: 38.8
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
50,623
−8%since 2000
from 54,749 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
43.7
+18%since 2000
from 36.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
938 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
49K51K54K56K59K19902000201020202024Columbus County
202450K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.9%(2,466)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.4%(2,727)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.2%(3,160)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.2%(3,131)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.6%(2,815)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.4%(5,775)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.8%(5,966)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.9%(6,544)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.7%(7,433)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7412.5%(6,344)
US avg: 10%
75 to 846.4%(3,261)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2%(1,001)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$38,487
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,805 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,426
+56%since 2000
from $14,415 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
21.9%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
22.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2000
from 22.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade11.4%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade7.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance6.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services6.7%
US avg: 6.6%
Professional, scientific, technical4.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration4.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction2.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services2.2%
US avg: 0.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$94,800
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$642
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $379 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
71.3%
−5.1 ptssince 2000
from 76.4% in 2000
28.7% rent
Persons per household
2.45 people
−3%since 2009
from 2.52 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
2.5
−8%since 2009
from 2.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic62.8%(34,380)
Black30.9%(16,901)
Hispanic / Latino2.3%(1,269)
Asian0.2%(118)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic59.3%(30,019)
Black28.6%(14,503)
Hispanic / Latino5.2%(2,613)
Asian0.3%(156)
Other5.3%(2,675)
Segregation Score
24
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
Mexican5.1%(2,835)
Spaniard0.1%(52)
Cuban0.1%(46)
Puerto Rican0.1%(42)
Honduran0.1%(30)
Asian origin
Korean0.1%(70)
Asian Indian0.1%(66)
Filipino0.1%(36)
Japanese0.1%(35)
Chinese0%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(9)
Ancestry
American23.7%(13,205)
English6.1%(3,411)
Irish3.7%(2,058)
German3.1%(1,707)
Scotch-Irish1.5%(861)
Scottish1%(577)
French0.9%(513)
Italian0.7%(380)
West Indian0.4%(225)
Norwegian0.4%(215)
Haitian0.3%(178)
+ 26 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.2%(132)
Welsh0.2%(103)
British0.2%(98)
Finnish0.1%(81)
Dutch0.1%(68)
Russian0.1%(61)
Moroccan0.1%(54)
Greek0.1%(50)
Swedish0.1%(45)
Jamaican0.1%(43)
Portuguese0.1%(34)
Canadian0%(24)
Ukrainian0%(21)
Egyptian0%(20)
Brazilian0%(17)
Czech0%(16)
Ethiopian0%(11)
Syrian0%(9)
Danish0%(5)
Swiss0%(2)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.9%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 10.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
84.0%
+15.4 ptssince 2000
from 68.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
4.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.3 min
+50%since 2000
from 19.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
86.0%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 79.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.3%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.7%
−5.8 ptssince 2011
from 11.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
47.2%
−6.2 ptssince 2011
from 53.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
64.8%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
28.3%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 25.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
Female
50.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 52.2% in 2009
Foreign born
2.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
13.6%
−7.2 ptssince 2013
from 20.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
81.9%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
90.0%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married35.4%(7,330)
Married48%(9,937)
Widowed4.3%(885)
Divorced12.3%(2,537)
Women 15+
Never married26.5%(5,553)
Married46.5%(9,752)
Widowed15.4%(3,233)
Divorced11.6%(2,429)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
13.6%
−7.2 ptssince 2013
from 20.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
38.1%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
13.0%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
26.1%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
28.3%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
2.9%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
50.9%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
49.0%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)16%(533)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)21.7%(722)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era40.8%(1,355)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War4.9%(164)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II2.3%(75)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 3,325 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
Drill deeper

Places similar to Columbus County

Jackson County
Pop 49,629
Colquitt County
Pop 47,438
Jackson County
Pop 52,501
Gadsden County
Pop 44,298
Places similar to Columbus County
Head to head

Compare Columbus County to nearby counties

COLUMBUS COUNTY VS
Bladen County
Income$42,422+10%
Home value$135,100+43%
Population30,007−41%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS COUNTY VS
Brunswick County
Income$77,024+100%
Home value$349,800+269%
Population174,702+246%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS COUNTY VS
Horry County
Income$66,880+74%
Home value$287,700+203%
Population427,551+747%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS COUNTY VS
Robeson County
Income$41,978+9%
Home value$94,500same
Population119,941+138%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Columbus County, North Carolina?

Columbus County, North Carolina has about 50,623 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Columbus County, North Carolina earns about $38,487 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Columbus County, North Carolina expensive?

In Columbus County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $94,800, and the typical rent is about $642 a month.

How educated are people in Columbus County, North Carolina?

About 12.9% of adults age 25 and over in Columbus County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 22.1% of people in Columbus County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Columbus County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Columbus County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,036 residents, a change of about 2 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 →