Population 1,489 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Emerson
Household size in Emerson
| Period | Emerson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.57 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.19 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.33 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.84 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.27 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Emerson holds 2.84 people, more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.57, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Emerson
| Period | Emerson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.2 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.5 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.2 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.0 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −3.2 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Emerson is young: half of its residents are under 36.0, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young families with children.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Emerson
| Period | Emerson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −6.7 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Emerson: 3.7% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Emerson
Renters in Emerson
| Period | Emerson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 38.5% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.9% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.2% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Emerson is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over six in ten owners (62.4%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Emerson
| Period | Emerson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.1% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.3% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.3% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.8% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −16.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 15.8% of the housing in Emerson, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Emerson
| Period | Emerson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | −5 | +7 | +6 |
The housing in Emerson is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1965, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Emerson
| Period | Emerson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $509 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $581 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $509 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $737 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$228 | +$528 | +$606 |
The median renter in Emerson pays $737 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 15.3% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Emerson
Bachelor's degrees in Emerson
| Period | Emerson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Emerson: 8.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Emerson
| Period | Emerson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 74.7% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 73.7% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 71.7% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 81.6% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.9 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in five adults in Emerson never finished high school, well above the national share: only 81.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Emerson
| Period | Emerson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 17.8% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 0.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.9% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Emerson has been low: just 0.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Emerson compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerson | 2.84 | 36.0 | 3.7% | 22.2% | 15.8% | 1965 | $737 | 8.8% | 81.6% | 0.9% |
| Wards | 2.35 | 39.6 | 16.2% | 29.0% | 11.3% | 1981 | $783 | 10.2% | 82.2% | 4.9% |
| Clarendon | 2.44 | 43.5 | 10.6% | 25.3% | 12.0% | 1983 | $822 | 16.4% | 84.3% | 1.1% |
| Green Sea | 2.66 | 45.7 | 25.8% | 36.9% | 9.3% | 1979 | $782 | 18.0% | 82.5% | 7.7% |
| Cherry Grove | 2.24 | 43.6 | 15.1% | 43.1% | 9.3% | 1980 | $662 | 17.6% | 86.6% | 4.2% |
| Ironhill | 2.32 | 49.8 | 13.9% | 15.4% | 17.6% | 1988 | $753 | 16.6% | 97.7% | 0.0% |
| Tabor City | 2.38 | 46.6 | 9.5% | 30.9% | 15.0% | 1979 | $836 | 15.9% | 84.0% | 5.9% |
| Chadbourn | 2.29 | 42.6 | 12.1% | 32.2% | 13.8% | 1981 | $823 | 13.9% | 86.7% | 3.3% |
| Cerro Gordo | 2.07 | 44.4 | 15.3% | 40.2% | 10.4% | 1983 | $696 | 12.7% | 86.1% | 2.7% |
| Grist | 2.06 | 41.8 | 19.6% | 42.9% | 25.9% | 1974 | $735 | 9.1% | 85.0% | 6.0% |
| Williamson Crossroads | 2.18 | 40.1 | 15.9% | 16.3% | 16.9% | 1984 | $738 | 18.4% | 86.9% | 3.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Stewart, OH · Highgate Center, VT · Holladay, TN · Hollyhill, KY · Inez, KY · Jefferson, PA · Jonesburg, MO · Kaaawa, HI · Keezletown, VA · Laconia, IN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Emerson. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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