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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Wilkes County

North Carolina · 65,969 residents · 753.678 sq mi
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The short version

Wilkes County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $44,980. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $129,200. With a median age of 45.7, the population is older than the US median of 38.8.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 45.7
US median: 38.8
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
65,969
+1%since 2000
from 65,632 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
88 / sq mi
+1%since 2000
from 87 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
45.7
+19%since 2000
from 38.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
58K61K64K67K70K1990201020202024Wilkes County
202466K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,980
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,258 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,634
+46%since 2000
from $17,516 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
25.8%
+9.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
16.4%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 11.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade17.4%
US avg: 10%
Information15.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade7%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance6.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical5.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction3.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.7%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration2.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$129,200
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $80,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$642
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $416 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
73.6%
−4.4 ptssince 2000
from 77.9% in 2000
26.4% rent
Afford Score
2.9
+22%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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic85.4%(56,316)
Black3.9%(2,580)
Hispanic / Latino7.1%(4,654)
Asian0.5%(324)
Other1.9%(1,282)
Diversity Score30.7%(20,274)
Segregation Score27.1%(17,860)
Diversity Score
31
+64%since 2000
from 19 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
27
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.0%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
81.5%
+15.6 ptssince 2000
from 66.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
4.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 3.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.8 min
+60%since 2000
from 16.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
82.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 83.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.1%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.3%
−6.7 ptssince 2011
from 12.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
56.0%
−1.7 ptssince 2011
from 57.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
28.5%
−29.4 ptssince 2009
from 57.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
50.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
3.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
11.5%
−72.0 ptssince 2013
from 83.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+5%
Home value$214,800+66%
Population11,479−83%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WILKES COUNTY VS
Alexander County
Income$65,354+45%
Home value$211,800+64%
Population36,958−44%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WILKES COUNTY VS
Ashe County
Income$56,866+26%
Home value$243,100+88%
Population27,514−58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WILKES COUNTY VS
Caldwell County
Income$56,425+25%
Home value$192,200+49%
Population81,105+22%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wilkes County, North Carolina?

Wilkes County, North Carolina has about 65,969 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Wilkes County, North Carolina earns about $44,980 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 $129,200, and the typical rent is about $642 a month.

How educated are people in Wilkes County, North Carolina?

About 16.0% 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 16.4% 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 6,576 residents, a change of about 11 percent over that period.

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

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