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STATE · ADMITTED 1789 · 2020 ACS

North Carolina

10,439,388 residents · 100 counties · 776 cities · 2,672 census tracts
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The short version

North Carolina has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $56,642. Population has grown 30% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $182,100.

NC
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
10,439,388
+30%since 2000
from 8,049,313 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
215 / sq mi
+30%since 2000
from 166 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
39.4
+12%since 2000
from 35.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
6.2M7.4M8.7M9.9M11.1M1990201020202024North Carolina
202410.7M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,642
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,184 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,993
+58%since 2000
from $20,307 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
37.6%
+10.9 ptssince 2009
from 26.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
14.0%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 12.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade12.1%
US avg: 10%
Information11.6%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade7%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services6.7%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration4.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$182,100
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $95,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$932
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $548 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
64.9%
−4.4 ptssince 2000
from 69.4% in 2000
35.1% rent
Afford Score
3.2
+31%since 2000
from 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)
2020
White, non-Hispanic60.5%(6,312,148)
Black20.2%(2,107,526)
Hispanic / Latino10.7%(1,118,596)
Asian3.3%(340,059)
Other3.9%(405,184)
Diversity Score70.8%(7,395,718)
Diversity Score
71
+31%since 2000
from 54 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
32.0%
+9.6 ptssince 2000
from 22.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
88.5%
+10.4 ptssince 2000
from 78.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
11.6%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.9 min
+57%since 2000
from 15.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
79.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 80.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.4%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 9.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
62.4%
−2.2 ptssince 2011
from 64.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
38.9%
−24.2 ptssince 2009
from 63.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
51.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
8.0%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
10.7%
−73.1 ptssince 2013
from 83.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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 10,439,388 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in North Carolina?

The typical household in North Carolina earns about $56,642 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 $182,100, and the typical rent is about $932 a month.

How educated are people in North Carolina?

About 32.0% 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 14.0% 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 3,810,751 residents, a change of about 57 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

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