With 59,470 people, Sampson County is a county in North Carolina. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $150,700. The poverty rate is 21.8%, above the 12.5% national rate. That trails the North Carolina median by roughly 28%. Owners hold 74% of the housing stock.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $52,432, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% 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 Sampson County
What changed most since 1990
Hispanic share1.2% → 22.0%(+20.8 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts
Black share33.0% → 24.0%(−9.0 pts)US over the same years: +0.2 pts
Adults with a bachelor's degree8.1% → 16.2%(+8.2 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
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)26.3%(810)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)22.2%(683)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era29.6%(913)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War1.5%(45)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 3,083 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
Sampson County, decade by decade
Sampson 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
47,297
$47,303
$110,403
8.1%
61.0
2000
60,161
$57,916
$120,958
11.1%
72.1
2010
63,431
$51,415
$125,875
12.4%
77.2
2020
59,036
$52,013
$118,174
14.4%
80.8
2024
59,470
$52,432
$150,700
16.2%
81.3
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 Sampson County, North Carolina?
Sampson County, North Carolina has about 59,470 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Sampson County, North Carolina?
The typical household in Sampson County, North Carolina earns about $52,432 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Sampson County, North Carolina expensive?
In Sampson County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $150,700, and the typical rent is about $834 a month.
How educated are people in Sampson County, North Carolina?
About 16.2% of adults age 25 and over in Sampson County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Sampson County, North Carolina?
About 21.8% of people in Sampson County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Sampson County, North Carolina grown since 1990?
Yes, Sampson County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 12,173 residents, a change of about 26 percent over that period.
