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COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

McDowell County

North Carolina · 35,681 residents · 439.954 sq mi
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The short version

McDowell County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $22,562. Population has fallen 15% since 2000, a loss of 6,470 residents. 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $44,800.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 35.9
US median: 33.0
Less educated
8% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 9%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
35,681
−15%vs 2000
vs 42,151 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
35.9
−5%vs 2000
vs 38.0 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
35K38K40K43K46K1990201020202024McDowell County
202445K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56.2%(2,220)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 96.2%(2,210)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.3%(2,265)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 198%(2,842)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 246.3%(2,257)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3415.5%(5,528)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4415.1%(5,373)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5411.7%(4,163)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 6410.2%(3,623)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 748.6%(3,051)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 844.8%(1,710)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.2%(439)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$22,562
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $32,396 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$10,516
−35%vs 2000
vs $16,109 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
11.4%
−0.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 11.6% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$44,800
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $64,800 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$296
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $411 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
77.1%
−0.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 77.2% in 2000
22.9% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in McDowell County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91%(38,373)
Black4.1%(1,716)
Hispanic / Latino2.9%(1,214)
Asian0.9%(387)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic95.3%(34,018)
Black3.9%(1,383)
Hispanic / Latino0.3%(121)
Asian0.4%(148)
Other0.4%(132)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican4.4%(1,994)
Dominican0.5%(240)
Puerto Rican0.5%(234)
Cuban0.5%(203)
Guatemalan0.2%(108)
Spaniard0.1%(58)
Costa Rican0.1%(57)
Honduran0.1%(54)
Panamanian0.1%(50)
Venezuelan0.1%(33)
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Filipino0.4%(159)
Hmong0.2%(85)
Vietnamese0.1%(67)
Chinese0.1%(33)
Korean0.1%(33)
Asian Indian0.1%(31)
Ancestry
English14.3%(6,401)
American11.7%(5,247)
Irish10.4%(4,661)
German8.7%(3,880)
Scotch-Irish3.3%(1,479)
Scottish2.2%(981)
Dutch1.9%(837)
Italian1.6%(717)
French1%(428)
Polish0.8%(378)
Swedish0.3%(132)
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.3%(114)
Welsh0.3%(114)
Hungarian0.2%(86)
Russian0.2%(80)
Danish0.1%(59)
Australian0.1%(58)
British0.1%(49)
Ukrainian0.1%(41)
Greek0.1%(38)
Swiss0.1%(37)
Canadian0.1%(29)
Czech0.1%(24)
Austrian0%(19)
Finnish0%(18)
Croatian0%(17)
Slovak0%(14)
Arab0%(9)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
8.1%
−0.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 9.0% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
58.5%
−11.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 70.2% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
2.9%
+0.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 2.6% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.8 min
+19%vs 2000
vs 16.6 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married30%(5,613)
Married55.5%(10,372)
Widowed3.2%(593)
Divorced11.3%(2,103)
Women 15+
Never married20.3%(3,885)
Married57.1%(10,894)
Widowed11.8%(2,259)
Divorced10.8%(2,055)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to McDowell County

Polk County
Pop 45,514
Coles County
Pop 46,607
Knox County
Pop 47,767
Greene County
Pop 47,411
Places similar to McDowell County
Head to head

Compare McDowell County to nearby counties

MCDOWELL COUNTY VS
Burke County
Income$58,592+160%
Home value$185,400+314%
Population88,655+96%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MCDOWELL COUNTY VS
Yancey County
Income$58,709+160%
Home value$243,100+443%
Population19,084−58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MCDOWELL COUNTY VS
Rutherford County
Income$51,410+128%
Home value$201,800+350%
Population65,745+45%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MCDOWELL COUNTY VS
Mitchell County
Income$57,602+155%
Home value$220,100+391%
Population15,062−67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in McDowell County, North Carolina?

McDowell County, North Carolina has about 35,681 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in McDowell County, North Carolina earns about $22,562 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is McDowell County, North Carolina expensive?

In McDowell County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $44,800, and the typical rent is about $296 a month.

How educated are people in McDowell County, North Carolina?

About 8.1% of adults age 25 and over in McDowell County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 11.4% of people in McDowell County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

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12 census tracts
Census Tract 9709.03Census Tract 9702Census Tract 9708Census Tract 9709.02Census Tract 9707Census Tract 9705Census Tract 9706Census Tract 9703Census Tract 9701.02Census Tract 9709.04Census Tract 9704Census Tract 9701.01
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 28752ZIP 28761ZIP 28762ZIP 28749
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →