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COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Rowan County

North Carolina · 130,340 residents · 511.61 sq mi
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The short version

Rowan County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $37,494. Population has grown 18% since 1990. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 24%. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $88,000.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 36.4
US median: 35.2
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
130,340
+18%since 1990
from 110,605 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
255 / sq mi
+18%since 1990
from 216 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
36.4
+4%since 1990
from 35.2 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
107K118K130K142K154K1990201020202024Rowan County
2024150K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$37,494
+8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $26,354 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,071
+50%since 1990
from $12,018 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
10.6%
+1.1 ptssince 1990
from 9.4% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$88,000
+24%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $53,900 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$496
+8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $347 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
73.6%
Unchangedsince 1990
from 73.6% in 1990
26.4% rent
Afford Score
2.3
+15%since 1990
from 2.0 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rowan County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic83.1%(91,960)
Black16%(17,681)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(579)
Asian0.3%(340)
Diversity Score36.3%(40,171)
2000
White, non-Hispanic78.1%(101,859)
Black15.7%(20,440)
Hispanic / Latino4.1%(5,369)
Asian0.8%(1,086)
Diversity Score43.4%(56,556)
Diversity Score
43
+19%since 1990
from 36 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.2%
+2.5 ptssince 1990
from 11.7% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
74.2%
+8.2 ptssince 1990
from 66.0% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
3.9%
+0.5 ptssince 1990
from 3.4% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.6 min
−13%since 1990
from 17.9 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Rowan County

Berrien County
Pop 152,444
Penobscot County
Pop 157,967
Warren County
Pop 149,375
Monroe County
Pop 143,345
Places similar to Rowan County
Head to head

Compare Rowan County to nearby counties

ROWAN COUNTY VS
Cabarrus County
Income$89,005+137%
Home value$354,800+303%
Population249,725+61%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROWAN COUNTY VS
Davie County
Income$75,057+100%
Home value$253,900+189%
Population45,855−70%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROWAN COUNTY VS
Davidson County
Income$64,172+71%
Home value$219,100+149%
Population180,182+16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROWAN COUNTY VS
Iredell County
Income$81,419+117%
Home value$321,400+265%
Population211,798+37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Rowan County, North Carolina?

Rowan County, North Carolina has about 130,340 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Rowan County, North Carolina earns about $37,494 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rowan County, North Carolina expensive?

In Rowan County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $88,000, and the typical rent is about $496 a month.

How educated are people in Rowan County, North Carolina?

About 14.2% of adults age 25 and over in Rowan County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 10.6% of people in Rowan County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rowan County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Rowan County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 19,735 residents, a change of about 18 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

31 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 514Census Tract 517Census Tract 510.01Census Tract 511.01Census Tract 510.02Census Tract 516Census Tract 513.03Census Tract 512.01Census Tract 509.03Census Tract 515.01Census Tract 513.02Census Tract 502.02Census Tract 512.04Census Tract 519.01Census Tract 518.02Census Tract 502.01Census Tract 509.01Census Tract 503Census Tract 512.02Census Tract 505
14 ZIP codes
ZIP 28146ZIP 28144ZIP 28147ZIP 28023ZIP 28138ZIP 27013ZIP 28071ZIP 28159ZIP 28088ZIP 28125ZIP 27054ZIP 28072ZIP 28039ZIP 28041
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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