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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Lenoir County

North Carolina · 55,122 residents · 399.087 sq mi
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The short version

Lenoir County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $39,923. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value is $94,000. The poverty rate of 22.0% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 30% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 43.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 9%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
55,122
−8%since 2000
from 59,648 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
43.1
+13%since 2000
from 38.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
54K56K57K59K60K1990201020202024Lenoir County
202455K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.4%(2,980)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.1%(3,339)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.8%(3,740)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.2%(3,442)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.4%(2,998)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.2%(6,185)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.9%(6,030)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.8%(6,528)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6415.1%(8,340)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7412.3%(6,777)
US avg: 10%
75 to 846.2%(3,409)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.5%(1,354)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$39,923
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,191 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,894
+49%since 2000
from $16,744 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
23.4%
+8.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
22.0%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 16.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade17.5%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade9%
US avg: 6.7%
Information8.9%
US avg: 11.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.8%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction3.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance3.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services2.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration1.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.1%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$94,000
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $69,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$707
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $405 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
60.1%
−6.9 ptssince 2000
from 67.0% in 2000
39.9% rent
Afford Score
2.4
−17%since 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lenoir County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic55.5%(33,075)
Black40.3%(24,016)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(1,891)
Asian0.3%(199)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic48.2%(26,582)
Black40%(22,034)
Hispanic / Latino7.9%(4,365)
Asian0.6%(332)
Other4.5%(2,466)
Segregation Score
39
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
Mexican6.2%(3,488)
Puerto Rican0.7%(396)
Guatemalan0.4%(231)
Honduran0.1%(62)
Panamanian0.1%(61)
Chilean0.1%(39)
Dominican0.1%(34)
Asian origin
Korean0.1%(77)
Chinese0.1%(48)
Filipino0.1%(31)
Malaysian0%(27)
Pakistani0%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English8.7%(4,930)
American8.7%(4,906)
Irish5.6%(3,157)
German5.2%(2,930)
Italian1.6%(916)
Scottish1.4%(777)
French0.9%(484)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(483)
West Indian0.4%(253)
Polish0.4%(237)
British0.4%(220)
+ 24 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.4%(199)
Swedish0.3%(169)
Welsh0.3%(156)
Jamaican0.2%(122)
Hungarian0.2%(112)
Russian0.2%(103)
Slovak0.2%(91)
Romanian0.1%(75)
Austrian0.1%(64)
Lebanese0.1%(63)
Norwegian0.1%(53)
Palestinian0.1%(36)
Danish0.1%(33)
Portuguese0.1%(32)
Barbadian0.1%(29)
Haitian0%(16)
Ukrainian0%(15)
Moroccan0%(14)
Greek0%(14)
Nigerian0%(13)
Czech0%(8)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Subsaharan African population · Largest Mexican population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.5%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
81.1%
+9.2 ptssince 2000
from 71.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
4.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.5 min
+50%since 2000
from 15.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
81.5%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 76.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
9.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.9%
−2.1 ptssince 2011
from 11.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
57.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2011
from 58.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
30.7%
−29.9 ptssince 2009
from 60.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
Female
51.8%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
Foreign born
4.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
11.2%
−69.8 ptssince 2013
from 81.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married37.6%(7,920)
Married45.2%(9,503)
Widowed5.1%(1,068)
Divorced12.1%(2,548)
Women 15+
Never married34.5%(8,214)
Married40.3%(9,584)
Widowed12.6%(2,993)
Divorced12.6%(3,006)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Lenoir County

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Pop 52,501
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Pop 49,629
Apache County
Pop 64,445
Russell County
Pop 58,898
Places similar to Lenoir County
Head to head

Compare Lenoir County to nearby counties

LENOIR COUNTY VS
Greene County
Income$53,244+33%
Home value$117,400+25%
Population20,700−63%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LENOIR COUNTY VS
Jones County
Income$59,641+49%
Home value$130,300+39%
Population9,575−83%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LENOIR COUNTY VS
Wayne County
Income$59,733+50%
Home value$178,700+90%
Population122,278+119%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LENOIR COUNTY VS
Duplin County
Income$55,148+38%
Home value$137,400+46%
Population51,571−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lenoir County, North Carolina?

Lenoir County, North Carolina has about 55,122 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Lenoir County, North Carolina earns about $39,923 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lenoir County, North Carolina expensive?

In Lenoir County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $94,000, and the typical rent is about $707 a month.

How educated are people in Lenoir County, North Carolina?

About 15.5% of adults age 25 and over in Lenoir County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

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

Has Lenoir County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Lenoir County, North Carolina has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,152 residents, a change of about -4 percent over that period.

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17 census tracts
Census Tract 111Census Tract 108Census Tract 101Census Tract 114Census Tract 110.01Census Tract 110.02Census Tract 112.02Census Tract 106Census Tract 113.02Census Tract 105Census Tract 112.01Census Tract 109Census Tract 102Census Tract 107Census Tract 113.01Census Tract 103Census Tract 104
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 28504ZIP 28501ZIP 28551ZIP 28525
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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