CensusEasy
STATE · ADMITTED 1789 · 2000 CENSUS

North Carolina

8,049,313 residents · 100 counties · 776 cities · 2,672 census tracts
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The short version

North Carolina has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $39,184. Population has grown 21% since 1990. Median home value is $95,800.

NC
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
8,049,313
+21%since 1990
from 6,628,637 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Population density
166 / sq mi
+21%since 1990
from 136 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
35.3
+6%since 1990
from 33.2 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
6.2M7.4M8.7M9.9M11.1M1990201020202024North Carolina
202410.7M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$39,184
+12%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $26,647 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$20,307
+58%since 1990
from $12,885 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
12.3%
−0.7 ptssince 1990
from 13.0% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$95,800
+11%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $65,300 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$548
+9%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $382 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
69.4%
+1.3 ptssince 1990
from 68.0% in 1990
30.6% rent
Afford Score
2.4
Unchangedsince 1990
from 2.5 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in North Carolina on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic75.6%(5,011,248)
Black22%(1,455,340)
Hispanic / Latino1%(69,020)
Asian0.8%(50,395)
Diversity Score49.1%(3,252,399)
2000
White, non-Hispanic70.2%(5,647,155)
Black21.4%(1,723,301)
Hispanic / Latino4.7%(378,963)
Asian1.4%(112,416)
Diversity Score54.2%(4,361,414)
Diversity Score
54
+10%since 1990
from 49 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.5%
+5.1 ptssince 1990
from 17.4% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
78.1%
+8.2 ptssince 1990
from 70.0% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
7.2%
+1.8 ptssince 1990
from 5.4% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.9 min
−16%since 1990
from 18.9 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
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 8,049,313 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in North Carolina?

The typical household in North Carolina earns about $39,184 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 $95,800, and the typical rent is about $548 a month.

How educated are people in North Carolina?

About 22.5% 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 12.3% of people in North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,420,676 residents, a change of about 21 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

Largest cities
CharlotteRaleighGreensboroDurhamWinston-SalemFayettevilleCaryWilmington
All 100 counties
Wake CountyMecklenburg CountyGuilford CountyForsyth CountyDurham CountyCumberland CountyBuncombe CountyUnion CountyJohnston CountyCabarrus CountyGaston CountyNew Hanover CountyOnslow CountyIredell CountyAlamance CountyPitt CountyDavidson CountyBrunswick CountyCatawba CountyRowan CountyOrange CountyHarnett CountyRandolph CountyHenderson CountyWayne CountyRobeson CountyMoore CountyCraven CountyCleveland CountyNash CountyLincoln CountyRockingham CountyBurke CountyChatham CountyFranklin CountyWilson CountyCaldwell CountySurry CountyPender CountyCarteret CountyLee CountyStanly CountyWilkes CountyRutherford CountyHaywood CountySampson CountyGranville CountyHoke CountyLenoir CountyWatauga CountyDuplin CountyColumbus CountyEdgecombe CountyHalifax CountyStokes CountyDavie CountyMcDowell CountyJackson CountyBeaufort CountyVance CountyPasquotank CountyRichmond CountyPerson CountyMacon CountyYadkin CountyDare CountyAlexander CountyTransylvania CountyScotland CountyCurrituck CountyCherokee CountyBladen CountyAshe CountyMontgomery CountyCaswell CountyMadison CountyAnson CountyMartin CountyGreene CountyPolk CountyYancey CountyHertford CountyWarren CountyAvery CountyBertie CountyNorthampton CountyMitchell CountyChowan CountySwain CountyPerquimans CountyPamlico CountyClay CountyAlleghany CountyCamden CountyWashington CountyGates CountyJones CountyGraham CountyHyde CountyTyrrell County
Metro areas
CharlotteRaleighGreensboroWinston-SalemDurhamWilmingtonAshevilleFayettevilleHickoryJacksonvilleBurlingtonGreenville
Rankings
Highest income cities in North CarolinaFastest growing citiesAll US state rankings

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

How we source and harmonize this data →