North Carolina
With a population of 11M, North Carolina is the #9 most populous state in the U.S., spanning 100 counties. The median age of residents is 39.1 years. Households earn a median income of $72,388, 4% below the national median, with a poverty rate of 13.0% and a median home value of $288,900.
Demographics
North Carolina has a population of 11M, making it the #9 most populous state. The median age is 39.1 years.
Population Trend
Rankings →Year-over-Year Population Growth
Age & Sex Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Nativity
Language at Home
Geographic Mobility (Past Year)
Economy
The median household income in North Carolina is $72,388, ranking #38 among all states. The poverty rate is 13.0% and unemployment stands at 4.6%.
Median Household Income Trend
Rankings →Income Distribution
Industry of Employment
Occupation
Housing
The median home value in North Carolina is $288,900. Renters pay a median of $1,228/mo and the homeownership rate is 66.6%.
Median Home Value Trend
Rankings →Household Type
Education
In North Carolina, 35.7% of adults age 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher, which is 5.8% above the national average, ranking #21 out of 52 states.
Bachelor's Degree or Higher Trend
Rankings →Health & Wellbeing
Life expectancy in North Carolina is 76.1 years. 17.1% of adults report poor or fair health and 11.3% lack health insurance. 90.1% of residents have health insurance coverage (ACS). Data from County Health Rankings (2025).
Life Expectancy Trend
Substance Use
14.8% of adults in North Carolina smoke , 33.6% are obese , and 19.6% report excessive drinking. The drug overdose death rate is 35.9 per 100,000.
Adult Smoking Trend
Safety
The homicide rate in North Carolina is 7.6 per 100,000 and the suicide rate is 13.6 per 100,000. Motor vehicle deaths occur at a rate of 15.4 per 100,000.
Homicide Rate Trend
Families & Children
17.6% of children in North Carolina live in poverty and the infant mortality rate is 6.9 per 1,000 live births. The teen birth rate is 17.7 per 1,000 females age 15-19.
Infant Mortality Trend
Civic & Transportation
Voter turnout in North Carolina is 72.8%. The mean commute time is 27.5 min, which is 0.4% below the national average.
Voter Turnout Trend
Mean Commute Time Trend
Rankings →Elections
In the 2024 presidential election, North Carolina voted Republican with a margin of 3.2%. The vote was 47.8% Dem / 51% Rep. Compared to 2020, the margin shifted 1.9 toward Republicans .
Vote Share Over Time
Counties in North Carolina
North Carolina has 100 counties. The highest median income county is Wake County at $105,768.
Highest Income Counties
| 1 | Wake County | $105,768 |
| 2 | Union County | $102,900 |
| 3 | Chatham County | $94,317 |
| 4 | Currituck County | $93,511 |
| 5 | Camden County | $91,078 |
| 6 | Orange County | $90,089 |
| 7 | Cabarrus County | $89,005 |
| 8 | Dare County | $88,994 |
| 9 | Mecklenburg County | $87,005 |
| 10 | Moore County | $86,080 |
Lowest Income Counties
| 100 | Tyrrell County | $41,685 |
| 99 | Washington County | $41,813 |
| 98 | Robeson County | $41,978 |
| 97 | Bladen County | $42,422 |
| 96 | Richmond County | $44,883 |
| 95 | Lenoir County | $45,143 |
| 94 | Hertford County | $45,537 |
| 93 | Halifax County | $45,590 |
| 92 | Scotland County | $45,730 |
| 91 | Alleghany County | $47,172 |
All 100 Counties
About North Carolina
All data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 5-Year Estimates. Values are estimates and subject to margin of error. For more information, see our methodology.