STATE · ADMITTED 1789 · 1990 CENSUS

North Carolina

6,628,637 residents · 100 counties · 776 cities · 2,672 census tracts

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North Carolina has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $26,647. Population has fallen 18% since 2000, a loss of 1,420,676 residents. Median home value is $65,300.

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

6,628,637

−18%vs 2000

vs 8,049,313 in 2000

1990 – 2024

Population density

136 / sq mi

−18%vs 2000

vs 166 / sq mi in 2000

US average: 221

Median age

33.2

−6%vs 2000

vs 35.3 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Population, 1990 – 2024

202410.7M

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$26,647

−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $39,184 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$12,885

−37%vs 2000

vs $20,307 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

13.0%

+0.7 ptsvs 2000

vs 12.3% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$65,300

−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $95,800 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$382

−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $548 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

68.0%

−1.3 ptsvs 2000

vs 69.4% in 2000

32.0% rent

Afford Score

2.5

Unchangedvs 2000

vs 2.4 in 2000

1990 – 2024

RELATED:See current rent listings in North Carolina on RentDataNow

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic70.2%(5,647,155)

Black21.4%(1,723,301)

Hispanic / Latino4.7%(378,963)

Asian1.4%(112,416)

Other0%

Diversity Score54.2%(4,361,414)

1990

White, non-Hispanic75.6%(5,011,248)

Black22%(1,455,340)

Hispanic / Latino1%(69,020)

Asian0.8%(50,395)

Other1.7%(111,654)

Diversity Score49.1%(3,252,399)

Diversity Score

−9%vs 2000

vs 54 in 2000

1990 – 2024

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

17.4%

−5.1 ptsvs 2000

vs 22.5% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

70.0%

−8.2 ptsvs 2000

vs 78.1% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

5.4%

−1.8 ptsvs 2000

vs 7.2% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

18.9 min

+19%vs 2000

vs 15.9 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.

Section 02

Largest cities

1.Charlotte964,784

2.Raleigh506,306

3.Greensboro308,667

4.Durham305,561

5.Winston-Salem257,271

6.Fayetteville209,120

7.Cary183,582

8.Wilmington126,809

9.High Point120,571

10.Concord114,598

11.Greenville96,443

12.Asheville93,523

Frequently asked

How many people live in North Carolina?

North Carolina has about 6,628,637 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in North Carolina?

The typical household in North Carolina earns about $26,647 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is North Carolina expensive?

In North Carolina, the median home is worth about $65,300, and the typical rent is about $382 a month.

How educated are people in North Carolina?

About 17.4% of adults age 25 and over in North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in North Carolina?

About 13.0% of people in North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

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Largest cities

Charlotte Raleigh Greensboro Durham Winston-Salem Fayetteville Cary Wilmington

All 100 counties

Wake County Mecklenburg County Guilford County Forsyth County Durham County Cumberland County Buncombe County Union County Johnston County Cabarrus County Gaston County New Hanover County Onslow County Iredell County Alamance County Pitt County Davidson County Brunswick County Catawba County Rowan County Orange County Harnett County Randolph County Henderson County Wayne County Robeson County Moore County Craven County Cleveland County Nash County Lincoln County Rockingham County Burke County Chatham County Franklin County Wilson County Caldwell County Surry County Pender County Carteret County Lee County Stanly County Wilkes County Rutherford County Haywood County Sampson County Granville County Hoke County Lenoir County Watauga County Duplin County Columbus County Edgecombe County Halifax County Stokes County Davie County McDowell County Jackson County Beaufort County Vance County Pasquotank County Richmond County Person County Macon County Yadkin County Dare County Alexander County Transylvania County Scotland County Currituck County Cherokee County Bladen County Ashe County Montgomery County Caswell County Madison County Anson County Martin County Greene County Polk County Yancey County Hertford County Warren County Avery County Bertie County Northampton County Mitchell County Chowan County Swain County Perquimans County Pamlico County Clay County Alleghany County Camden County Washington County Gates County Jones County Graham County Hyde County Tyrrell County

Metro areas

Charlotte Raleigh Greensboro Winston-Salem Durham Wilmington Asheville Fayetteville Hickory Jacksonville Burlington Greenville

Rankings

Highest income cities in North Carolina Fastest growing cities All US state rankings

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

How we source and harmonize this data →