CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Orange County

North Carolina · 148,696 residents · 397.538 sq mi
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The short version

Orange County is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $74,803. Population has grown 26% since 2000. 61% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $331,800. Households here earn about 32% more than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 35.1
US median: 38.8
More educated
61% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 37%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
148,696
+26%since 2000
from 118,227 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
374 / sq mi
+26%since 2000
from 297 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
35.1
+15%since 2000
from 30.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
88K105K122K139K155K1990201020202024Orange County
2024150K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$74,803
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,372 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$42,872
+72%since 2000
from $24,873 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
49.9%
+13.5 ptssince 2009
from 36.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
12.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2000
from 14.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information7.6%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade5.4%
US avg: 10%
Other services4.9%
US avg: 6.6%
Wholesale trade4.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 2%
Finance & insurance1.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Professional, scientific, technical1.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.8%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$331,800
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $161,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,136
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $684 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
59.2%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 57.6% in 2000
40.8% rent
Afford Score
4.4
+16%since 2000
from 3.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Orange County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic75.8%(89,656)
Black13.7%(16,175)
Hispanic / Latino4.5%(5,273)
Asian4.1%(4,840)
Other0%
Diversity Score47.3%(55,978)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic64.9%(96,537)
Black10.5%(15,571)
Hispanic / Latino10.6%(15,812)
Asian8.5%(12,615)
Other3.5%(5,232)
Diversity Score66.2%(98,408)
Segregation Score22.4%(33,378)
Diversity Score
66
+40%since 2000
from 47 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
22
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
60.8%
+9.4 ptssince 2000
from 51.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
93.0%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 87.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
34.8%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 27.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.9 min
+73%since 2000
from 13.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
64.8%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 69.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
4.8%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 6.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
62.3%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 65.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
57.6%
−17.2 ptssince 2009
from 74.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
Female
52.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 52.6% in 2009
Foreign born
12.7%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
6.7%
−81.5 ptssince 2013
from 88.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Orange County

Johnson County
Pop 174,262
Hampshire County
Pop 164,065
Ascension Parish
Pop 135,105
Douglas County
Pop 154,293
Places similar to Orange County
Head to head

Compare Orange County to nearby counties

ORANGE COUNTY VS
Durham County
Income$82,316+10%
Home value$389,400+17%
Population347,240+128%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ORANGE COUNTY VS
Alamance County
Income$65,651−12%
Home value$241,500−27%
Population186,177+22%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ORANGE COUNTY VS
Person County
Income$63,300−15%
Home value$213,900−36%
Population40,636−73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ORANGE COUNTY VS
Chatham County
Income$94,317+26%
Home value$446,200+34%
Population85,111−44%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Orange County, North Carolina?

Orange County, North Carolina has about 148,696 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Orange County, North Carolina earns about $74,803 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Orange County, North Carolina expensive?

In Orange County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $331,800, and the typical rent is about $1,136 a month.

How educated are people in Orange County, North Carolina?

About 60.8% of adults age 25 and over in Orange County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 12.4% of people in Orange County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Orange County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Orange County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 54,845 residents, a change of about 58 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

42 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 116.02Census Tract 109.02Census Tract 112.08Census Tract 117Census Tract 110.01Census Tract 111.07Census Tract 122.02Census Tract 110.02Census Tract 112.07Census Tract 119.02Census Tract 114Census Tract 108.02Census Tract 109.04Census Tract 107.05Census Tract 121.01Census Tract 122.01Census Tract 111.05Census Tract 112.04Census Tract 111.03Census Tract 107.06
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 27516ZIP 27514ZIP 27278ZIP 27510ZIP 27243ZIP 27231ZIP 27599
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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