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COUNTY

Henderson County

North Carolina · 122,375 residents (2025 est.) · 373 sq mi
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The short version

With 118,484 people, Henderson County is a county in North Carolina. The median age is 47.5, about 9 years above the US median. 29,311 more people live here than in 2000. 75% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 8%. Median household income is $68,187, under the $82,259 national median.

At a glance
Lower income
median household income $68,187, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.5
US median: 38.9
Average education
37% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 69%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Henderson County

What changed most since 1990

  • Population69,285 → 118,484 (+71%)US over the same years: +35%

Among the 100 counties in North Carolina

  • 25th in household income$68,187
  • 16th in share with a bachelor's degree36.5%
  • Tied for 14th in home value$351,400
  • 71st in diversity score43.6
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
118,484
+33%since 2000
from 89,173 in 2000
122,375 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
318 / sq mi
+33%since 2000
from 239 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
47.5
+11%since 2000
from 42.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
373 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
64K79K94K109K123K19902000201020202024Henderson County
2024118K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.5%(5,363)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95%(5,869)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.7%(6,735)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.3%(6,227)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.6%(5,464)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.5%(12,389)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.5%(13,636)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.3%(14,530)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.3%(16,895)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7415%(17,794)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 848.7%(10,310)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.8%(3,272)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$68,187
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,109 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$40,567
+92%since 2000
from $21,110 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.0%
+20.0 ptssince 2009
from 25.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.6%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 9.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.450
+4%since 2010
from 0.432 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade9.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$351,400
+69%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $114,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,187
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $513 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
75.0%
−3.8 ptssince 2000
from 78.8% in 2000
25.0% rent
Vacancy rate
12.0%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.29 people
−1%since 2009
from 2.31 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
19.5%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.0%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 40.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.2
+32%since 2009
from 3.9 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
64
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.8%(80,118)
Black3%(2,686)
Hispanic / Latino5.5%(4,880)
Asian0.6%(543)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic79.5%(94,172)
Black2.6%(3,107)
Hispanic / Latino13.1%(15,507)
Asian1.1%(1,361)
Other3.7%(4,337)
Diversity Score
44
+42%since 2009
from 31 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
25
−4%since 2020
from 26 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
Mexican8.1%(9,588)
Central American1.6%(1,890)
Puerto Rican1.2%(1,465)
Colombian0.7%(832)
Guatemalan0.7%(817)
Salvadoran0.6%(664)
Honduran0.2%(248)
Spaniard0.2%(237)
Cuban0.2%(230)
Chilean0.2%(206)
Argentine0.1%(89)
+ 9 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Korean0.2%(285)
Cambodian0.2%(285)
Filipino0.2%(229)
Asian Indian0.1%(166)
Chinese0.1%(139)
Vietnamese0.1%(118)
Thai0%(47)
Laotian0%(41)
Japanese0%(22)
Pacific Islander origin
Fijian0%(21)
Ancestry
English17.3%(20,467)
German12.9%(15,260)
Irish12.2%(14,404)
American10.4%(12,319)
Scottish3.8%(4,524)
Scotch-Irish3%(3,564)
Italian3%(3,522)
French2.2%(2,623)
Polish1.9%(2,216)
Dutch1.2%(1,415)
Swedish1%(1,209)
Welsh1%(1,155)
+ 41 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.9%(1,037)
Hungarian0.6%(750)
British0.6%(711)
Russian0.3%(403)
Ukrainian0.3%(372)
Czech0.3%(370)
Finnish0.3%(354)
Danish0.2%(263)
Greek0.2%(256)
Swiss0.2%(229)
Canadian0.2%(227)
Austrian0.2%(200)
Arab0.2%(180)
Belgian0.1%(176)
Portuguese0.1%(172)
Slovak0.1%(151)
Croatian0.1%(119)
Lithuanian0.1%(119)
West Indian0.1%(87)
Romanian0.1%(81)
Guyanese0.1%(60)
Israeli0%(49)
Moroccan0%(44)
Jamaican0%(43)
Slovene0%(38)
Kenyan0%(35)
Haitian0%(29)
Lebanese0%(28)
Armenian0%(24)
Nigerian0%(23)
Syrian0%(18)
Serbian0%(18)
Ghanaian0%(16)
Brazilian0%(11)
Bulgarian0%(10)
Latvian0%(5)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
36.5%
+12.4 ptssince 2000
from 24.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.6%
+8.4 ptssince 2000
from 83.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.5%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 8.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.5 min
+63%since 2000
from 13.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.4%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 79.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.3%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.4%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.5%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 7.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2011
from 57.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
72.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 71.9% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
11.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.1%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 32.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
51.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
8.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.1%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2012
from 15.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.4%
−4.8 ptssince 2013
from 17.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.0%
+13.3 ptssince 2017
from 76.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
95.7%
+4.5 ptssince 2020
from 91.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
89.7%
+2.1 ptssince 2020
from 87.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
87.9%
−2.2 ptssince 2016
from 90.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
10.0%
+2.1 ptssince 2016
from 8.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married25.9%(12,461)
Married62.4%(30,055)
Widowed3.3%(1,581)
Divorced8.4%(4,038)
Women 15+
Never married20.7%(10,849)
Married55.6%(29,147)
Widowed10.5%(5,487)
Divorced13.2%(6,899)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
12.4%
−4.8 ptssince 2013
from 17.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
44.7%
−3.7 ptssince 2020
from 48.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
20.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 20.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
27.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 27.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
18.5%
+3.5 ptssince 2020
from 15.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 2.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
62.3%
−4.0 ptssince 2020
from 66.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
44.2%
+3.1 ptssince 2020
from 41.1% 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)18.1%(1,410)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)19.2%(1,501)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era43.4%(3,389)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War5.4%(420)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.6%(49)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 7,811 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

Henderson County, decade by decade

Henderson County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
199069,285$64,723$188,64519.5%11.6
200089,173$69,421$208,03324.1%23.6
2010106,740$66,816$264,98527.3%34.6
2020116,281$71,423$281,19331.5%44.9
2024118,484$68,187$351,40036.5%43.6

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 Henderson County

Morgan County
Pop 126,483
Douglas County
Pop 120,920
Hardin County
Pop 113,482
Faulkner County
Pop 133,979
Places similar to Henderson County
Head to head

Compare Henderson County to nearby counties

HENDERSON COUNTY VS
Polk County
Income$67,758−1%
Home value$315,000−10%
Population20,533−83%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HENDERSON COUNTY VS
Buncombe County
Income$74,436+9%
Home value$391,800+11%
Population277,417+127%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HENDERSON COUNTY VS
Transylvania County
Income$66,184−3%
Home value$373,600+6%
Population34,211−72%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HENDERSON COUNTY VS
Greenville County
Income$76,932+13%
Home value$299,000−15%
Population583,125+377%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Henderson County, North Carolina?

Henderson County, North Carolina has about 118,484 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Henderson County, North Carolina earns about $68,187 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Henderson County, North Carolina expensive?

In Henderson County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $351,400, and the typical rent is about $1,187 a month.

How educated are people in Henderson County, North Carolina?

About 36.5% of adults age 25 and over in Henderson County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 11.6% of people in Henderson County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Henderson County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Henderson County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 49,199 residents, a change of about 71 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 →