Population 92,716 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lincoln County
Household size in Lincoln County
| Period | Lincoln County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.54 | 2.60 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.61 | 2.68 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.51 | 2.67 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.56 | 2.62 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Lincoln County has 2.56 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. The Charlotte area as a whole looks much the same. Compared with other North Carolina counties, though, Lincoln County has larger households than most.
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 Lincoln County
| Period | Lincoln County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.4 | 36.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.0 | 37.8 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.8 | 38.6 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.8 | 38.8 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.4 | +2.0 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Lincoln County skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.8, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 40.4 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Lincoln County
| Period | Lincoln County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 12.7% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 11.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 11.3% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Lincoln County than nationally: 10.2%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 1.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Lincoln County
Renters in Lincoln County
| Period | Lincoln County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.8% | 30.9% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.3% | 33.4% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.6% | 34.3% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.1% | 34.1% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | +3.2 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Lincoln County is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 38.5% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share is down 2.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Lincoln County
| Period | Lincoln County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 10.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 10.0% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 8.6% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 8.3% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −2.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Lincoln County than nationally: 7.4%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy is down 3.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only four of North Carolina's 100 counties have a lower vacancy rate.
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 Lincoln County
| Period | Lincoln County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1986 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1988 | 1987 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1989 | 1989 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1993 | 1994 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +8 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Lincoln County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1993, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1987 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the west.
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 Lincoln County
| Period | Lincoln County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $666 | $875 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $822 | $966 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $871 | $1,127 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,145 | $1,552 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$479 | +$678 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Lincoln County costs $1,145 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $479 a month from 2006–10, a 72% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 28.5% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the east.
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 Lincoln County
Bachelor's degrees in Lincoln County
| Period | Lincoln County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.4% | 30.6% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.9% | 32.4% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.9% | 35.9% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.3% | 40.6% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.9 pts | +10.0 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
About three in ten adults 25 and older in Lincoln County (29.3%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 9.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the southwest.
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 Lincoln County
| Period | Lincoln County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.2% | 85.8% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.6% | 87.3% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.2% | 89.2% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.0% | 90.6% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.8 pts | +4.8 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Lincoln County have finished high school as nationally: 90.0%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 8.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Lincoln County
| Period | Lincoln County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 9.1% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 10.8% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.3% | 5.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 4.3% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.2 pts | −4.8 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Lincoln County runs below the national rate: 3.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 6.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Lincoln County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | 2.56 | 44.8 | 10.2% | 21.1% | 7.4% | 1993 | $1,145 | 29.3% | 90.0% | 3.6% |
| Cabarrus County | 2.85 | 38.2 | 11.3% | 28.8% | 10.6% | 1993 | $1,628 | 38.9% | 92.0% | 4.6% |
| Rutherford County | 2.44 | 44.9 | 12.5% | 26.1% | 15.9% | 1981 | $815 | 21.2% | 87.4% | 6.0% |
| Stanly County | 2.53 | 41.3 | 11.4% | 25.5% | 11.0% | 1976 | $898 | 19.4% | 88.0% | 4.4% |
| Montgomery County | 2.41 | 44.4 | 12.4% | 25.0% | 24.2% | 1983 | $789 | 19.3% | 85.0% | 3.3% |
| Henderson County | 2.37 | 47.1 | 10.5% | 25.0% | 11.9% | 1989 | $1,256 | 35.6% | 90.9% | 3.5% |
| Buncombe County | 2.70 | 43.5 | 9.2% | 33.8% | 23.3% | 1988 | $1,316 | 45.2% | 92.6% | 4.1% |
| Haywood County | 2.33 | 47.7 | 9.5% | 25.1% | 21.9% | 1980 | $1,069 | 29.6% | 91.3% | 3.3% |
| Lee County | 2.63 | 39.3 | 16.2% | 32.7% | 8.6% | 1987 | $1,065 | 20.3% | 85.3% | 3.8% |
| Jackson County | 2.18 | 40.8 | 11.4% | 39.2% | 23.3% | 1991 | $960 | 32.3% | 91.7% | 5.5% |
| Swain County | 2.31 | 41.5 | 15.2% | 27.3% | 27.3% | 1989 | $703 | 21.4% | 86.8% | 7.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Rogers County, OK · Crawford County, PA · Cullman County, AL · Dodge County, WI · Dougherty County, GA · Elmore County, AL · Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK · Floyd County, IN · Forrest County, MS · Franklin County, WA
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 Lincoln County. 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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