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COUNTY

Harnett County

North Carolina · 150,137 residents (2025 est.) · 595 sq mi
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Part of the Anderson Creek micropolitan area
The short version

Harnett County is a county of 139,150 people in North Carolina. The population has risen by half since 2000, adding 48,125 people. Few US counties rank higher on income. About 24% of adults have finished a four-year degree. This skews young, with a median age of 35.6. The typical home is worth $246,200, having roughly tripled since 2000.

At a glance
Lower income
median household income $71,287, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 68%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Harnett County

What changed most since 1990

  • Population67,822 → 139,150 (+105%)US over the same years: +35%
  • Median home value (2024 dollars)$119,763 → $246,200 (+106%)US over the same years: +67%

Among the 100 counties in North Carolina

  • 22nd in household income$71,287
  • 47th in share with a bachelor's degree24.5%
  • 36th in home value$246,200
  • 26th in diversity score74.4
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
139,150
+53%since 2000
from 91,025 in 2000
150,137 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
234 / sq mi
+53%since 2000
from 153 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
35.6
+10%since 2000
from 32.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
595 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
61K82K103K125K146K19902000201020202024Harnett County
2024139K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57%(9,700)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.9%(9,591)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.5%(10,413)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.6%(9,120)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.9%(8,210)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3415.1%(21,023)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4414.3%(19,899)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.9%(16,507)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411.2%(15,614)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748.3%(11,519)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.9%(5,488)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.5%(2,066)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$71,287
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,105 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,463
+99%since 2000
from $16,775 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.6%
+25.9 ptssince 2009
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 14.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.442
+7%since 2010
from 0.413 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade10.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$246,200
+68%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $80,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,112
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $486 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
71.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 70.3% in 2000
29.0% rent
Vacancy rate
9.2%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.73 people
+3%since 2009
from 2.65 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
21.3%
−7.1 ptssince 2009
from 28.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.4%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 44.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.5
+23%since 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
81
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic68.9%(62,708)
Black22.4%(20,371)
Hispanic / Latino5.9%(5,336)
Asian0.6%(573)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic58.2%(81,041)
Black19.8%(27,559)
Hispanic / Latino15.1%(21,043)
Asian0.9%(1,233)
Other5.9%(8,274)
Diversity Score
74
+17%since 2009
from 63 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
18
+8%since 2020
from 17 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
Mexican7.5%(10,503)
Puerto Rican3.2%(4,430)
Central American1.8%(2,518)
Honduran0.7%(976)
Cuban0.5%(723)
Salvadoran0.5%(662)
Spaniard0.3%(473)
Guatemalan0.3%(472)
Colombian0.3%(368)
Dominican0.3%(348)
Peruvian0.2%(254)
+ 8 more hispanic origin groups with data
Costa Rican0.2%(222)
Panamanian0.1%(111)
Ecuadorian0.1%(84)
Venezuelan0.1%(77)
Nicaraguan0.1%(75)
Argentine0%(33)
Chilean0%(18)
Asian origin
Filipino0.3%(402)
Chinese0.2%(295)
Korean0.2%(257)
Japanese0.1%(120)
Asian Indian0.1%(94)
Vietnamese0.1%(89)
Cambodian0%(31)
Laotian0%(15)
Thai0%(8)
Hmong0%(7)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.2%(217)
Chamorro0.2%(217)
Ancestry
English10.2%(14,250)
Irish8.4%(11,628)
German8.1%(11,284)
American7.4%(10,306)
Italian3%(4,207)
Scottish1.8%(2,555)
Scotch-Irish1.5%(2,051)
French1.2%(1,688)
Polish1.1%(1,591)
West Indian0.9%(1,232)
British0.5%(761)
+ 41 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.5%(724)
Dutch0.3%(485)
Jamaican0.3%(454)
Swedish0.3%(357)
Greek0.3%(355)
Haitian0.2%(325)
Danish0.2%(288)
Portuguese0.2%(286)
Russian0.2%(245)
Hungarian0.2%(239)
Canadian0.2%(237)
Welsh0.2%(230)
Arab0.1%(200)
Brazilian0.1%(151)
Nigerian0.1%(149)
Ghanaian0.1%(136)
Kenyan0.1%(116)
Slovak0.1%(108)
Lithuanian0.1%(104)
Ukrainian0.1%(80)
Swiss0.1%(75)
Czech0%(68)
Lebanese0%(59)
Moroccan0%(59)
Iranian0%(50)
Barbadian0%(50)
Finnish0%(30)
Guyanese0%(26)
Austrian0%(23)
Egyptian0%(17)
Belgian0%(13)
Bulgarian0%(10)
Slovene0%(6)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.5%
+11.7 ptssince 2000
from 12.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.6%
+13.6 ptssince 2000
from 75.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.4%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
32.8 min
+55%since 2000
from 21.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.9%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 80.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.9%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.8%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.7%
−6.2 ptssince 2011
from 10.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.8%
−3.5 ptssince 2011
from 63.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
66.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 65.7% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
12.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.0%
+6.8 ptssince 2009
from 29.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Female
50.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Foreign born
6.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
11.8%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.0%
+2.2 ptssince 2012
from 13.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.7%
−5.9 ptssince 2013
from 15.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.2%
+10.2 ptssince 2017
from 75.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
94.4%
+2.7 ptssince 2020
from 91.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
86.8%
+1.9 ptssince 2020
from 85.0% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
87.7%
−2.1 ptssince 2016
from 89.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
10.3%
+2.0 ptssince 2016
from 8.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married32.3%(17,348)
Married53.8%(28,904)
Widowed3.4%(1,800)
Divorced10.5%(5,644)
Women 15+
Never married26.4%(14,723)
Married53.3%(29,739)
Widowed8.1%(4,502)
Divorced12.2%(6,786)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
9.7%
−5.9 ptssince 2013
from 15.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
45.8%
+2.2 ptssince 2020
from 43.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
12.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2020
from 11.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
16.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 15.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
21.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 20.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
5.4%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 4.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
67.5%
+2.3 ptssince 2020
from 65.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
37.4%
+1.6 ptssince 2020
from 35.8% 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)48.1%(5,605)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)36.5%(4,254)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era19.8%(2,312)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.6%(303)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.6%(66)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 11,660 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
Over time

Harnett County, decade by decade

Harnett County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
199067,822$52,185$119,7639.5%49.0
200091,025$63,949$146,82512.8%58.9
2010114,678$61,647$177,66316.0%66.5
2020133,568$66,135$194,77522.1%74.8
2024139,150$71,287$246,20024.5%74.4

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Harnett County

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Pop 154,327
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Pop 144,368
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Pop 162,845
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Pop 149,375
Places similar to Harnett County
Head to head

Compare Harnett County to nearby counties

HARNETT COUNTY VS
Lee County
Income$65,387−8%
Home value$240,200−2%
Population70,258−53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARNETT COUNTY VS
Cumberland County
Income$61,291−14%
Home value$199,200−19%
Population338,473+125%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARNETT COUNTY VS
Johnston County
Income$83,384+17%
Home value$305,600+24%
Population256,448+71%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARNETT COUNTY VS
Chatham County
Income$94,317+32%
Home value$446,200+81%
Population85,111−43%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Harnett County, North Carolina?

Harnett County, North Carolina has about 139,150 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Harnett County, North Carolina earns about $71,287 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Harnett County, North Carolina expensive?

In Harnett County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $246,200, and the typical rent is about $1,112 a month.

How educated are people in Harnett County, North Carolina?

About 24.5% of adults age 25 and over in Harnett County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 13.7% of people in Harnett County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Harnett County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Harnett County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 71,328 residents, a change of about 105 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 →