Population 6,331 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Old Fort
Household size in Old Fort
| Period | Old Fort | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.53 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.61 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.39 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.16 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.37 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Old Fort are small: just 2.16 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.53, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only 18 of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people have smaller 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 Old Fort
| Period | Old Fort | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.2 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.7 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.3 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 52.7 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.5 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Old Fort skews older: half of its residents are older than 52.7, 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 46.2 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only 18 of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people are older.
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 Old Fort
| Period | Old Fort | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.3% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.0% of households in Old Fort, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 3.4 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Old Fort has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of 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 Old Fort
Renters in Old Fort
| Period | Old Fort | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.2% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.9% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.4% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.8% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Old Fort is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 54.1% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 3.3 points since 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 Old Fort
| Period | Old Fort | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.7% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.3% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.7% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.5% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Old Fort: 13.5% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 5.2 points, 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 Old Fort
| Period | Old Fort | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +7 | +6 |
The housing in Old Fort is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1978 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the northeast.
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 Old Fort
| Period | Old Fort | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $553 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $669 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $682 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $828 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$276 | +$528 | +$606 |
The median renter in Old Fort pays $828 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $276 a month from 2006–10, a 50% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 24.9% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Old Fort
Bachelor's degrees in Old Fort
| Period | Old Fort | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.5% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.1% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.5 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Old Fort have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 23.1%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 11.5 points, mirroring the country.
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 Old Fort
| Period | Old Fort | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.1% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 77.5% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.9% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.7% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.7 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Old Fort is above the national rate: 92.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 9.7 points from 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 Old Fort
| Period | Old Fort | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 15.1% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Old Fort: 8.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 18 have higher unemployment. Unemployment is down 3.6 points from 2006–10, 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).
Old Fort 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Fort | 2.16 | 52.7 | 6.0% | 22.8% | 13.5% | 1986 | $828 | 23.1% | 92.7% | 8.5% |
| Moffitt Hill | 2.23 | 54.3 | 6.9% | 10.5% | 24.2% | 1990 | $855 | 26.7% | 90.2% | 21.4% |
| Greenlee | 1.85 | 52.0 | 4.3% | 31.6% | 9.7% | 1967 | $929 | 27.9% | 81.8% | 1.9% |
| Ridgecrest | 2.15 | 39.0 | 5.6% | 29.2% | 45.8% | 1981 | $1,156 | 48.2% | 91.2% | 11.9% |
| Graphite | 2.52 | 44.4 | 5.6% | 34.5% | 47.9% | 1974 | $1,031 | 46.5% | 92.7% | 2.4% |
| Montreat | 2.21 | 33.3 | 3.6% | 37.2% | 52.6% | 1977 | $1,373 | 50.6% | 94.6% | 5.3% |
| Black Mountain | 2.48 | 52.9 | 4.9% | 26.4% | 32.8% | 1984 | $1,352 | 53.2% | 91.6% | 3.7% |
| Marion | 2.42 | 43.2 | 11.0% | 26.4% | 13.4% | 1979 | $794 | 17.7% | 84.7% | 3.2% |
| Glenwood | 1.89 | 59.3 | 2.0% | 38.7% | 27.0% | 1993 | $831 | 11.1% | 74.6% | 0.0% |
| Busick | 2.06 | 54.9 | 5.3% | 29.0% | 21.4% | 1976 | $899 | 27.6% | 86.3% | 2.9% |
| Woodlawn | 2.65 | 37.2 | 16.2% | 30.7% | 17.3% | 1990 | $818 | 26.2% | 94.4% | 7.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Millington, MI · Moundville, AL · Morrison, CO · Morgantown, KY · Mooresboro, NC · Moores Mill, AL · Montrose, MI · Monessen, PA · Mohave Valley, AZ · Mitchell, 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 Old Fort. 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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