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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Lincoln County

North Carolina · 86,810 residents · 295.847 sq mi
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The short version

Lincoln County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $59,592. Population has grown 36% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $187,000. With a median age of 44.2, the population is older than the US median of 38.8.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 44.2
US median: 38.8
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 35%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
86,810
+36%since 2000
from 63,780 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
293 / sq mi
+36%since 2000
from 216 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
44.2
+21%since 2000
from 36.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
46K59K72K84K97K1990201020202024Lincoln County
202493K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,592
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,421 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,197
+76%since 2000
from $18,877 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
39.2%
+12.8 ptssince 2009
from 26.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
12.2%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 9.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade17%
US avg: 10%
Information12.6%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade9.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance7.3%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical5.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services5.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration3.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing3.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services2%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$187,000
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $92,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$777
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $482 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
76.7%
−1.8 ptssince 2000
from 78.5% in 2000
23.3% rent
Afford Score
3.1
+41%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lincoln County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic86.7%(55,290)
Black6.4%(4,067)
Hispanic / Latino5.7%(3,656)
Asian0.3%(188)
Other0%
Diversity Score28.4%(18,112)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic82.5%(71,661)
Black5.1%(4,405)
Hispanic / Latino7.4%(6,412)
Asian0.8%(692)
Other2.7%(2,376)
Diversity Score36.1%(31,379)
Segregation Score35.2%(30,598)
Diversity Score
36
+27%since 2000
from 28 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
35
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
23.1%
+10.1 ptssince 2000
from 13.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
88.8%
+17.1 ptssince 2000
from 71.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
7.2%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
30.2 min
+59%since 2000
from 19.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
84.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 84.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
3.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.2%
−6.0 ptssince 2011
from 11.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
61.9%
−4.5 ptssince 2011
from 66.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
34.7%
−23.3 ptssince 2009
from 58.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Female
50.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Foreign born
5.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
9.0%
−74.4 ptssince 2013
from 83.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Lincoln County

Sutter County
Pop 98,787
Barrow County
Pop 99,773
Dubuque County
Pop 99,381
St. Clair County
Pop 98,206
Places similar to Lincoln County
Head to head

Compare Lincoln County to nearby counties

LINCOLN COUNTY VS
Catawba County
Income$67,864+14%
Home value$241,600+29%
Population170,172+72%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LINCOLN COUNTY VS
Gaston County
Income$67,478+13%
Home value$266,000+42%
Population246,558+150%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LINCOLN COUNTY VS
Cleveland County
Income$58,534−2%
Home value$200,000+7%
Population103,325+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LINCOLN COUNTY VS
Mecklenburg County
Income$87,005+46%
Home value$406,800+118%
Population1,233,383+1150%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lincoln County, North Carolina?

Lincoln County, North Carolina has about 86,810 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Lincoln County, North Carolina earns about $59,592 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lincoln County, North Carolina expensive?

In Lincoln County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $187,000, and the typical rent is about $777 a month.

How educated are people in Lincoln County, North Carolina?

About 23.1% of adults age 25 and over in Lincoln County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 12.2% of people in Lincoln County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lincoln County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Lincoln County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 36,491 residents, a change of about 73 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

18 census tracts
Census Tract 711.02Census Tract 711.01Census Tract 709.02Census Tract 712.03Census Tract 708Census Tract 704Census Tract 702.01Census Tract 701Census Tract 705Census Tract 710.01Census Tract 706Census Tract 712.02Census Tract 709.01Census Tract 703Census Tract 707Census Tract 710.02Census Tract 702.02Census Tract 712.01
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 28092ZIP 28037ZIP 28168ZIP 28080ZIP 28033
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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