Northampton County is home to 16,931 people in North Carolina. The median age is 52.0, about 13 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 18% of adults. The typical home is worth $114,500, having more than doubled since 2000. 1% of people here were born outside the United States. That trails the North Carolina median by roughly 31%.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $50,086, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 52.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Northampton County
What changed most since 1990
Median age36.3 → 52.0(+15.7 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
Population20,798 → 16,931(−19%)US over the same years: +35%
Median home value (2024 dollars)$90,003 → $114,500(+27%)US over the same years: +67%
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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)15.9%(162)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)22.9%(233)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era53.5%(544)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War1.8%(18)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.2%(2)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 1,017 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
Over time
Northampton County, decade by decade
Northampton County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
20,798
$43,271
$90,003
8.8%
60.9
2000
22,086
$48,551
$95,455
10.8%
62.1
2010
22,099
$43,989
$107,317
12.0%
63.8
2020
17,471
$47,232
$101,326
15.1%
67.6
2024
16,931
$50,086
$114,500
17.9%
68.7
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
How many people live in Northampton County, North Carolina?
Northampton County, North Carolina has about 16,931 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Northampton County, North Carolina?
The typical household in Northampton County, North Carolina earns about $50,086 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Northampton County, North Carolina expensive?
In Northampton County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $114,500, and the typical rent is about $758 a month.
How educated are people in Northampton County, North Carolina?
About 17.9% of adults age 25 and over in Northampton County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Northampton County, North Carolina?
About 21.1% of people in Northampton County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Northampton County, North Carolina grown since 1990?
Yes, Northampton County, North Carolina has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 3,867 residents, a change of about -19 percent over that period.
