Population 59,470 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Sampson County
Household size in Sampson County
| Period | Sampson County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.63 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.71 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.68 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.77 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.14 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Sampson County holds 2.77 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.63, even as the national average fell. Of North Carolina's 100 counties, only five 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 Sampson County
| Period | Sampson County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.0 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.2 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.8 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.1 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
At 39.8, the median age in Sampson County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 38.7 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the south 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 Sampson County
| Period | Sampson County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.5% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.8% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are more common in Sampson County than nationally: 13.8%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 0.8 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 Sampson County
Renters in Sampson County
| Period | Sampson County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.5% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.2% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.7% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.2% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Sampson County own their homes; 26.2% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Nearly six in ten owners (56.3%) 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. The renter share has fallen 5.3 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 Sampson County
| Period | Sampson County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.6% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.4% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.7% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Sampson County: 16.7% 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 4.9 points, 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 Sampson County
| Period | Sampson County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +7 | +6 |
The housing in Sampson County is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1987, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1981 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, 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 Sampson County
| Period | Sampson County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $550 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $591 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $667 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $843 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$294 | +$528 | +$606 |
The median renter in Sampson County pays $843 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $294 a month since 2006–10, up 53%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.7% of household income on rent, just 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 Sampson County
Bachelor's degrees in Sampson County
| Period | Sampson County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.3% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.1% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.9% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.2% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Sampson County: 16.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 3.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of North Carolina's 100 counties, only eight have a lower share of college graduates.
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 Sampson County
| Period | Sampson County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 75.1% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 74.5% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 79.6% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 84.3% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.3 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in six adults in Sampson County never finished high school, more than nationally: 84.3% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 9.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Sampson 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 Sampson County
| Period | Sampson County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.9%, unemployment in Sampson County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 4.4 points, 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).
Sampson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sampson County | 2.77 | 39.8 | 13.8% | 26.2% | 16.7% | 1987 | $843 | 16.2% | 84.3% | 4.9% |
| Duplin County | 2.40 | 42.3 | 13.3% | 29.7% | 12.7% | 1985 | $877 | 18.4% | 82.4% | 5.6% |
| Cumberland County | 2.57 | 34.5 | 14.4% | 45.0% | 10.8% | 1988 | $1,262 | 27.6% | 93.1% | 7.7% |
| Hoke County | 2.79 | 34.4 | 15.6% | 27.0% | 7.4% | 1998 | $1,152 | 23.6% | 89.0% | 6.6% |
| Jones County | 2.23 | 47.9 | 11.1% | 20.6% | 13.1% | 1986 | $773 | 20.1% | 89.4% | 4.3% |
| Richmond County | 2.48 | 40.8 | 18.7% | 34.1% | 14.0% | 1977 | $778 | 16.6% | 84.0% | 10.5% |
| Craven County | 2.35 | 41.6 | 11.8% | 31.6% | 11.4% | 1988 | $1,186 | 26.5% | 92.0% | 4.4% |
| Pamlico County | 2.16 | 51.9 | 8.7% | 17.1% | 23.8% | 1987 | $884 | 24.4% | 89.7% | 5.5% |
| Anson County | 2.49 | 42.8 | 13.8% | 31.5% | 13.4% | 1975 | $852 | 10.3% | 83.3% | 5.1% |
| Union County | 3.02 | 39.2 | 9.4% | 18.4% | 6.6% | 1998 | $1,775 | 41.7% | 90.5% | 4.2% |
| York County | 2.61 | 40.1 | 10.7% | 25.5% | 6.5% | 1998 | $1,419 | 40.5% | 92.9% | 4.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Pike County, PA · Madison County, NY · Marion County, OH · Marion County, WV · Marquette County, MI · Mason County, WA · Maverick County, TX · McCracken County, KY · McMinn County, TN · Medina County, TX
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 Sampson 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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