CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

New Hanover County

North Carolina · 225,702 residents · 192.255 sq mi
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The short version

New Hanover County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $56,689. Population has grown 41% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $258,200.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.6
US median: 38.8
More educated
42% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 34%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
225,702
+41%since 2000
from 160,307 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,174 / sq mi
+41%since 2000
from 834 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
40.6
+12%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
109K143K178K212K247K1990201020202024New Hanover County
2024235K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,689
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,172 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,324
+57%since 2000
from $23,123 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
38.0%
+9.3 ptssince 2009
from 28.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
14.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information13.2%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services7.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade6.2%
US avg: 10%
Public administration4.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Finance & insurance3.2%
US avg: 5.5%
Arts, entertainment, food2.9%
US avg: 2%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$258,200
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $127,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,060
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $631 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
60.1%
−4.6 ptssince 2000
from 64.7% in 2000
39.9% rent
Afford Score
4.6
+43%since 2000
from 3.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in New Hanover County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic78.9%(126,453)
Black16.8%(27,001)
Hispanic / Latino2%(3,276)
Asian0.8%(1,325)
Other0%
Diversity Score41.3%(66,172)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic74.1%(167,150)
Black12%(26,974)
Hispanic / Latino7.7%(17,300)
Asian1.5%(3,468)
Other3%(6,773)
Diversity Score51.2%(115,476)
Segregation Score37.9%(85,458)
Diversity Score
51
+24%since 2000
from 41 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
38
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
42.2%
+11.3 ptssince 2000
from 31.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
93.2%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 86.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
14.5%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 8.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.9 min
+54%since 2000
from 12.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
79.4%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 81.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.2%
−3.9 ptssince 2011
from 9.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
62.7%
−4.0 ptssince 2011
from 66.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
42.5%
−24.1 ptssince 2009
from 66.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
52.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
4.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
10.5%
−73.3 ptssince 2013
from 83.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to New Hanover County

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Pop 250,708
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Pop 263,110
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Pop 232,028
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Pop 263,795
Places similar to New Hanover County
Head to head

Compare New Hanover County to nearby counties

NEW HANOVER COUNTY VS
Pender County
Income$80,396+42%
Home value$299,000+16%
Population72,111−71%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NEW HANOVER COUNTY VS
Brunswick County
Income$77,024+36%
Home value$349,800+35%
Population174,702−29%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NEW HANOVER COUNTY VS
Columbus County
Income$49,442−13%
Home value$146,000−43%
Population50,487−79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NEW HANOVER COUNTY VS
Onslow County
Income$68,148+20%
Home value$236,400−8%
Population217,175−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in New Hanover County, North Carolina?

New Hanover County, North Carolina has about 225,702 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in New Hanover County, North Carolina earns about $56,689 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is New Hanover County, North Carolina expensive?

In New Hanover County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $258,200, and the typical rent is about $1,060 a month.

How educated are people in New Hanover County, North Carolina?

About 42.2% of adults age 25 and over in New Hanover County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in New Hanover County, North Carolina?

About 14.6% of people in New Hanover County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has New Hanover County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, New Hanover County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 105,418 residents, a change of about 88 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

55 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 117.05Census Tract 123Census Tract 121.06Census Tract 120.08Census Tract 105.04Census Tract 116.08Census Tract 120.09Census Tract 121.11Census Tract 116.12Census Tract 120.07Census Tract 103Census Tract 116.09Census Tract 115.02Census Tract 116.11Census Tract 117.01Census Tract 116.05Census Tract 120.10Census Tract 120.11Census Tract 121.09Census Tract 121.03
10 ZIP codes
ZIP 28412ZIP 28403ZIP 28411ZIP 28409ZIP 28405ZIP 28401ZIP 28429ZIP 28428ZIP 28480ZIP 28449
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →