Population 26,007 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Montgomery County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Montgomery County
Household size in Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.69 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.50 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.54 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.41 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.28 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Montgomery County has 2.41 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has dropped from 2.69 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northeast.
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 Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.0 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.8 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.4 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.7 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 44.4, Montgomery County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 39.7 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the northwest.
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 Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.9% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.3% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.4% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.0 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Montgomery County as they are nationally: 12.4%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in North Carolina overall (11.4%).
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 Montgomery County
Renters in Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.3% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.4% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.2% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.0% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a quarter of households in Montgomery County rent their homes (25.0%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. More than half of owners (55.5%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northwest.
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 Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 31.1% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.2% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 24.2% of the housing in Montgomery County, 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 is down 3.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +7 | +6 |
The typical home in Montgomery County was built around 1983, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are older than in North Carolina overall, where the median home dates to 1990. The median year built has moved up from 1975 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the center 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 Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $531 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $568 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $594 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $789 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$258 | +$528 | +$606 |
The median renter in Montgomery County pays $789 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $258 a month from 2006–10, a 49% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 27.1% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southeast; the most affordable are in the northeast.
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 Montgomery County
Bachelor's degrees in Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.5% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.5% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.4% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.3% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Montgomery County: 19.3% 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 3.9 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the southeast.
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 Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.1% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 74.3% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 80.2% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 85.0% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +11.9 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in seven adults in Montgomery County never finished high school, more than nationally: 85.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 11.9 points, as it has nationally. Montgomery County has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five North Carolina counties.
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 Montgomery County
| Period | Montgomery County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.7% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.9 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Montgomery County has been strong: just 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only nine of North Carolina's 100 counties have lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 7.9 points, in line with the national trend.
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).
Montgomery 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | 2.41 | 44.4 | 12.4% | 25.0% | 24.2% | 1983 | $789 | 19.3% | 85.0% | 3.3% |
| Stanly County | 2.53 | 41.3 | 11.4% | 25.5% | 11.0% | 1976 | $898 | 19.4% | 88.0% | 4.4% |
| Moore County | 2.42 | 44.7 | 7.6% | 23.6% | 12.5% | 1993 | $1,352 | 41.5% | 93.8% | 4.8% |
| Cabarrus County | 2.85 | 38.2 | 11.3% | 28.8% | 10.6% | 1993 | $1,628 | 38.9% | 92.0% | 4.6% |
| Lee County | 2.63 | 39.3 | 16.2% | 32.7% | 8.6% | 1987 | $1,065 | 20.3% | 85.3% | 3.8% |
| Mecklenburg County | 2.53 | 36.5 | 11.5% | 44.9% | 8.1% | 1995 | $1,767 | 49.0% | 90.4% | 4.2% |
| Harnett County | 2.79 | 37.0 | 10.9% | 29.0% | 9.3% | 1996 | $1,190 | 25.2% | 88.9% | 5.1% |
| Gaston County | 2.52 | 40.2 | 13.9% | 33.2% | 8.7% | 1984 | $1,249 | 26.9% | 88.5% | 4.9% |
| Lincoln County | 2.56 | 44.8 | 10.2% | 21.1% | 7.4% | 1993 | $1,145 | 29.3% | 90.0% | 3.6% |
| Cleveland County | 2.62 | 41.4 | 13.9% | 29.1% | 12.7% | 1980 | $966 | 21.7% | 88.2% | 5.1% |
| Wayne County | 2.48 | 38.7 | 15.4% | 38.5% | 11.3% | 1985 | $1,066 | 22.3% | 86.1% | 6.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Effingham County, IL · Westmoreland County, VA · Fillmore County, MN · Emmet County, MI · Emanuel County, GA · Elmore County, ID · Ellis County, KS · Elk County, PA · Elbert County, GA · Elbert County, CO
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 Montgomery 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.