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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Lenoir County

North Carolina · 55,122 residents · 399 sq mi
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The short version

Lenoir County is home to 55,122 people in North Carolina. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Median home value sits at $94,000. At a median age of 43.1, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 30% less than in North Carolina as a whole. 22.0% of people here live below the federal poverty line.

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
Land area
399 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
54K56K57K59K60K19902000201020202024Lenoir 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
Persons per household
2.34 people
+6%since 2009
from 2.21 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
2.4
−17%since 2009
from 2.8 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-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)
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%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
70.7%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
30.7%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 28.3% 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%
−7.8 ptssince 2013
from 19.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
85.2%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
87.2%
US average: 86.2%
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
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
11.2%
−7.8 ptssince 2013
from 19.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
44.6%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
15.0%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
24.1%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
30.5%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
4.2%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
57.5%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
48.6%
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)16.9%(765)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)22.7%(1,027)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era39.9%(1,809)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War8.7%(393)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II2.4%(110)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 4,529 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 Lenoir County

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Pop 52,501
Jackson County
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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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →