CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Wilkes County

North Carolina · 69,340 residents · 753.678 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the North Wilkesboro micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Wilkes County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $33,438. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $109,100. With a median age of 42.4, the population is older than the US median of 37.2. Households here earn about 27% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 42.4
US median: 37.2
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
69,340
+6%since 2000
from 65,632 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
92 / sq mi
+6%since 2000
from 87 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
42.4
+10%since 2000
from 38.5 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
58K61K64K67K70K1990201020202024Wilkes County
202466K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$33,438
−23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,258 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$19,406
+11%since 2000
from $17,516 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
17.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
19.2%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 11.9% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.465
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade17.6%
US avg: 10.9%
Information16.9%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade9.2%
US avg: 7.2%
Other services5.2%
US avg: 7%
Finance & insurance3.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.8%
US avg: 4.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 4.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction2.9%
US avg: 1.4%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$109,100
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $80,400 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$512
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $416 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
40.5%
−37.4 ptssince 2000
from 77.9% in 2000
25.6% rent
Vacancy rate
14.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
23.6%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.0%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 37.6% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
3.3
+39%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wilkes County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.4%(59,977)
Black4.1%(2,719)
Hispanic / Latino3.4%(2,262)
Asian0.3%(213)
Other0%
Diversity Score18.8%(12,313)
2010
White, non-Hispanic88.8%(61,587)
Black4%(2,785)
Hispanic / Latino5.4%(3,772)
Asian0.4%(295)
Other0.8%(567)
Diversity Score24.8%(17,228)
Diversity Score
25
+32%since 2000
from 19 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.3%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
72.6%
+6.7 ptssince 2000
from 66.0% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
3.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.6% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.6 min
+46%since 2000
from 16.2 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
82.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 83.2% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
12.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
3.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
7.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
11.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
25.0%
−32.9 ptssince 2009
from 57.9% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
50.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
3.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
9.0%
−39.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Wilkes County

Grant County
Pop 66,524
Jefferson County
Pop 62,987
DeKalb County
Pop 74,085
Russell County
Pop 58,898
Places similar to Wilkes County
Head to head

Compare Wilkes County to nearby counties

WILKES COUNTY VS
Alleghany County
Income$47,172+41%
Home value$214,800+97%
Population11,479−83%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WILKES COUNTY VS
Alexander County
Income$65,354+95%
Home value$211,800+94%
Population36,958−44%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WILKES COUNTY VS
Ashe County
Income$56,866+70%
Home value$243,100+123%
Population27,514−58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WILKES COUNTY VS
Caldwell County
Income$56,425+69%
Home value$192,200+76%
Population81,105+22%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wilkes County, North Carolina?

Wilkes County, North Carolina has about 69,340 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Wilkes County, North Carolina earns about $33,438 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wilkes County, North Carolina expensive?

In Wilkes County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $109,100, and the typical rent is about $512 a month.

How educated are people in Wilkes County, North Carolina?

About 12.3% of adults age 25 and over in Wilkes County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 19.2% of people in Wilkes County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wilkes County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Wilkes County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 9,947 residents, a change of about 17 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

18 census tracts
Census Tract 9603Census Tract 9610.02Census Tract 9607Census Tract 9608.02Census Tract 9610.01Census Tract 9611Census Tract 9612.01Census Tract 9608.01Census Tract 9602Census Tract 9605Census Tract 9601.02Census Tract 9604.01Census Tract 9612.02Census Tract 9604.02Census Tract 9601.01Census Tract 9606Census Tract 9609.02Census Tract 9609.01
12 ZIP codes
ZIP 28659ZIP 28697ZIP 28651ZIP 28654ZIP 28669ZIP 28635ZIP 28665ZIP 28606ZIP 28685ZIP 28670ZIP 28624ZIP 28649
Up the hierarchy
All counties in North Carolina
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →