Population 12,178 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Leicester
Household size in Leicester
| Period | Leicester | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.40 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.67 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.46 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.13 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.72 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Leicester are large by national standards, averaging 3.13 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.40, even as the national average fell. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only three have larger households.
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 Leicester
| Period | Leicester | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.1 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.0 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.9 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.7 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.3 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Leicester are younger than 39.7 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 42.1, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the northeast, the oldest in the west.
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 Leicester
| Period | Leicester | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.2% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in seven households in Leicester (15.2%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 5.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Leicester has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five North Carolina cities.
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 Leicester
Renters in Leicester
| Period | Leicester | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.0% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.6% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.0% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.8% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Leicester is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About half of owners (51.5%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 1.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Leicester
| Period | Leicester | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.2% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.9% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.2% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +9.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Leicester: 18.2% of homes are empty, 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. Vacancy has risen 9.9 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Leicester
| Period | Leicester | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1990 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1992 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1997 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +7 | +6 |
Leicester has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1997, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1986 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the west has the oldest housing.
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 Leicester
| Period | Leicester | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $693 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $762 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $865 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,335 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$642 | +$528 | +$606 |
Rent in Leicester runs $1,335 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $642 a month from 2006–10, a 93% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 30.3% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the west and lowest in the north.
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 Leicester
Bachelor's degrees in Leicester
| Period | Leicester | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.2% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.7% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.5% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.4 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Leicester: 24.5% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.4 points, as it has nationally.
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 Leicester
| Period | Leicester | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.8% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.1% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 83.9% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.7% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.9 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Leicester never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 4.9 points since 2006–10, as it has 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 Leicester
| Period | Leicester | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Leicester runs below the national rate: 3.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 2.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
Leicester 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leicester | 3.13 | 39.7 | 15.2% | 21.8% | 18.2% | 1997 | $1,335 | 24.5% | 87.7% | 3.5% |
| Alexander | 3.05 | 41.2 | 9.1% | 18.8% | 17.3% | 1996 | $1,133 | 36.5% | 90.3% | 4.5% |
| Newfound | 2.50 | 53.4 | 5.3% | 12.3% | 17.8% | 1992 | $1,346 | 34.3% | 95.9% | 2.2% |
| Woodfin | 2.80 | 42.3 | 8.7% | 38.4% | 25.5% | 1989 | $1,434 | 48.8% | 92.5% | 3.5% |
| Luck | 2.90 | 52.5 | 3.2% | 20.9% | 27.5% | 1991 | $1,656 | 25.7% | 95.6% | 0.0% |
| Candler | 2.84 | 42.1 | 12.0% | 27.1% | 19.0% | 1994 | $1,262 | 29.5% | 92.4% | 4.1% |
| Jupiter | 2.70 | 40.7 | 4.8% | 19.3% | 17.9% | 1994 | $978 | 34.1% | 90.0% | 1.0% |
| Asheville | 2.56 | 42.6 | 8.5% | 41.2% | 24.1% | 1982 | $1,365 | 52.3% | 93.9% | 4.1% |
| Upper Hominy | 3.31 | 40.7 | 7.3% | 22.8% | 29.9% | 1992 | $1,142 | 14.1% | 81.2% | 8.0% |
| Weaverville | 2.61 | 51.0 | 6.8% | 20.7% | 18.4% | 1994 | $1,327 | 45.4% | 94.7% | 3.3% |
| Avery Creek | 2.19 | 46.2 | 7.0% | 38.9% | 18.4% | 1987 | $1,747 | 45.1% | 92.2% | 8.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Lakeland, TN · Sandston, VA · Saltillo, MS · Salisbury, NY · Salem, IN · Russellville, KY · Roy, WA · Rossville, MD · Little Falls, NJ · Litchfield, NH
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 Leicester. 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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