Population 10,730,404 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in North Carolina
Household size in North Carolina
| Period | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in North Carolina run a little small, averaging 2.52 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national average fell.
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 North Carolina
| Period | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +2.3 |
At 40.3, the median age in North Carolina is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 37.9, 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 North Carolina
| Period | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in North Carolina as they are nationally: 11.4%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 1.0 points from 2006–10, as it has 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 North Carolina
Renters in North Carolina
| Period | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in North Carolina rent their homes (33.4%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 38.4% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.4 points, 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 North Carolina
| Period | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in North Carolina than nationally: 11.4%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is down 1.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 North Carolina
| Period | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 |
North Carolina has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1990, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1983 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. North Carolina has newer homes than at least four in five states.
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 North Carolina
| Period | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in North Carolina costs $1,317 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $528 a month from 2006–10, a 67% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 30.0% of the typical renter's income, just over 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 North Carolina
Bachelor's degrees in North Carolina
| Period | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a third of adults 25 and older in North Carolina (36.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.4 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 North Carolina
| Period | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in North Carolina have finished high school as nationally: 90.2%, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.7 points, mirroring the country.
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 North Carolina
| Period | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in North Carolina is close to the national rate: 4.8% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 4.0 points from 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).
North Carolina compared with nearby states
| State | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 2.52 | 40.3 | 11.4% | 33.4% | 11.4% | 1990 | $1,317 | 36.2% | 90.2% | 4.8% |
| South Carolina | 2.50 | 41.2 | 11.7% | 28.1% | 11.8% | 1991 | $1,294 | 32.6% | 90.2% | 4.9% |
| Virginia | 2.62 | 40.3 | 10.7% | 32.7% | 8.7% | 1984 | $1,743 | 42.5% | 91.6% | 4.3% |
| West Virginia | 2.43 | 43.2 | 10.4% | 25.1% | 14.9% | 1976 | $905 | 25.0% | 89.4% | 5.5% |
| District of Columbia | 2.09 | 36.2 | 12.2% | 58.5% | 10.4% | 1963 | $2,078 | 63.4% | 92.7% | 7.0% |
| Georgia | 2.73 | 38.6 | 13.4% | 34.3% | 10.3% | 1991 | $1,520 | 35.1% | 89.2% | 5.2% |
| Maryland | 2.68 | 40.6 | 11.7% | 32.4% | 7.1% | 1978 | $1,869 | 43.4% | 90.9% | 5.0% |
| Kentucky | 2.51 | 39.9 | 11.9% | 31.7% | 10.6% | 1982 | $1,024 | 27.6% | 88.8% | 5.1% |
| Delaware | 2.58 | 43.0 | 12.3% | 27.0% | 9.6% | 1984 | $1,514 | 35.5% | 91.5% | 5.1% |
| Tennessee | 2.53 | 39.9 | 11.8% | 33.1% | 10.1% | 1986 | $1,286 | 31.4% | 89.9% | 4.8% |
| Pennsylvania | 2.46 | 42.0 | 10.7% | 30.7% | 9.1% | 1967 | $1,323 | 35.6% | 91.8% | 5.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
States with similar populations: Tennessee · Maine · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Puerto Rico · Rhode Island · South Dakota · Alaska
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 North Carolina. 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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