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COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Sampson County

North Carolina · 47,297 residents · 945.93 sq mi
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The short version

Sampson County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $19,709. Population has fallen 21% since 2000, a loss of 12,864 residents. 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $46,000. Households here earn about 26% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 34.9
US median: 33.0
Less educated
8% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 9%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
47,297
−21%vs 2000
vs 60,161 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
34.9
Unchangedvs 2000
vs 35.0 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
46K51K56K61K66K1990201020202024Sampson County
202459K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56.5%(3,083)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 96.3%(2,995)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 148.5%(4,038)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 197.8%(3,712)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 246.3%(2,973)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3414.7%(6,960)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4414.8%(6,997)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5411%(5,222)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 649.5%(4,485)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 748.8%(4,150)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 844.5%(2,150)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.1%(532)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$19,709
−18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $31,793 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$9,480
−37%vs 2000
vs $14,976 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
20.7%
+3.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 17.6% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$46,000
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $66,400 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$283
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $387 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
72.9%
−0.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 73.5% in 2000
27.1% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sampson County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic56.8%(34,190)
Black29.7%(17,871)
Hispanic / Latino10.8%(6,477)
Asian0.3%(157)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic63.9%(30,215)
Black33.2%(15,705)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(578)
Asian0.1%(59)
Other2.8%(1,318)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican12.1%(7,219)
Central American6.5%(3,868)
Honduran2.7%(1,629)
Guatemalan1.9%(1,107)
Salvadoran1.2%(722)
Cuban0.6%(382)
Dominican0.5%(271)
Puerto Rican0.3%(166)
Colombian0.2%(142)
Nicaraguan0.1%(70)
+ 5 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.3%(149)
Asian Indian0.1%(38)
Filipino0.1%(31)
Thai0%(15)
Nepalese0%(11)
Chinese0%(8)
Korean0%(3)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(57)
Ancestry
English7.7%(4,601)
American6.5%(3,876)
Irish3.3%(1,971)
German2%(1,188)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(672)
Italian0.8%(470)
Scottish0.8%(458)
French0.4%(249)
Arab0.4%(232)
Palestinian0.4%(211)
Dutch0.2%(124)
+ 28 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.2%(118)
West Indian0.2%(98)
British0.1%(84)
Ukrainian0.1%(82)
Nigerian0.1%(81)
Haitian0.1%(75)
Welsh0.1%(62)
Danish0.1%(60)
Norwegian0.1%(34)
Czech0.1%(32)
Lithuanian0.1%(32)
Jamaican0%(17)
Lebanese0%(12)
Syrian0%(9)
Swedish0%(8)
Finnish0%(7)
Greek0%(5)
Serbian0%(4)
Swiss0%(3)
Belgian0%(2)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Central American population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
8.1%
−3.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 11.1% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
61.3%
−7.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 69.1% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
2.5%
−0.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 3.2% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.7 min
+21%vs 2000
vs 18.0 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married34.3%(8,062)
Married51.1%(12,015)
Widowed4.3%(1,004)
Divorced10.3%(2,416)
Women 15+
Never married27.8%(6,663)
Married47.5%(11,381)
Widowed12.8%(3,060)
Divorced11.9%(2,851)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Sampson County

Jefferson County
Pop 62,987
Russell County
Pop 58,898
Jackson County
Pop 54,281
Walker County
Pop 65,140
Places similar to Sampson County
Head to head

Compare Sampson County to nearby counties

SAMPSON COUNTY VS
Duplin County
Income$55,148+180%
Home value$137,400+199%
Population51,571−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAMPSON COUNTY VS
Cumberland County
Income$61,291+211%
Home value$199,200+333%
Population338,473+450%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAMPSON COUNTY VS
Bladen County
Income$42,422+115%
Home value$135,100+194%
Population30,007−51%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAMPSON COUNTY VS
Wayne County
Income$59,733+203%
Home value$178,700+288%
Population122,278+99%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sampson County, North Carolina?

Sampson County, North Carolina has about 47,297 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Sampson County, North Carolina earns about $19,709 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 $46,000, and the typical rent is about $283 a month.

How educated are people in Sampson County, North Carolina?

About 8.1% 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 20.7% of people in Sampson County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

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20 census tracts
Census Tract 9707.02Census Tract 9703.02Census Tract 9708.02Census Tract 9705.02Census Tract 9706Census Tract 9702.02Census Tract 9701.02Census Tract 9703.04Census Tract 9704.02Census Tract 9709Census Tract 9703.03Census Tract 9710.01Census Tract 9704.01Census Tract 9708.01Census Tract 9707.01Census Tract 9701.01Census Tract 9710.02Census Tract 9702.01Census Tract 9705.01Census Tract 9710.03
11 ZIP codes
ZIP 28328ZIP 28334ZIP 28382ZIP 28344ZIP 28366ZIP 28318ZIP 28341ZIP 28385ZIP 28441ZIP 28444ZIP 28393
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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