In recent years, North Carolina has experienced notable shifts in median income across various demographics, including age, race, gender, and county.
Here’s a detailed look at the economic landscape of North Caroline, based on data from the American Community Survey.
North Carolina Income Stats
- North Carolina’s median income increased by 55.72%, from $43,326 in 2010 to $67,481 in 2022. (ACS 1-Year)
- North Carolina’s median income is 11.93% lower, and average income is 12.24% lower, than the US national.
- In North Carolina, 4-person families earn the highest amount of income at $105,257 but still 7.60% lower than the US national average of $113,919.
- North Carolinians aged 15-24 earn $43,453, which is 3.27% more than the US median, while those aged 25-44 earn $74,876, which is 10.65% less.
- North Carolina’s Union County has the highest median income at $95,533 and the lowest poverty rate at 7.1%.
National Median Income Compared to NC
Source: US Census
| Metric | North Carolina | US National |
|---|---|---|
| Median Income: | $66,186 | $75,149 |
| Average Income: | $92,878 | $105,833 |
| Per Capita Income: | $37,641 | $41,261 |
| Poverty Rate: | 12.80% | 11.50% |
According to the US Census, the median income in North Carolina is $66,186, which is approximately 11.93% lower than the US national median income of $75,149. Similarly, North Carolina’s average income of $92,878 is about 12.24% lower than the national average of $105,833.
Additionally, the poverty rate in North Carolina is 12.8%, which is 11.30% higher than the national poverty rate of 11.5%. These figures highlight the economic disparities between North Carolina and the national averages, indicating a need for targeted economic policies to improve income levels and reduce poverty in the state.
Median Income by Family Size
According to the American Community Survey 1-Year data, families in North Carolina generally earn less than the national averages.
North Carolina’s median income for families is consistently lower across all sizes, with disparities ranging from 5.81% to 18.82% lower than the US medians. The most significant gap is seen in 6-person families, who earn 18.82% less than the national average.
| Family Size | North Carolina | US National |
|---|---|---|
| 2-person families | $75,315 | $80,329 |
| 3-person families | $86,408 | $95,770 |
| 4-person families | $105,257 | $113,919 |
| 5-person families | $95,060 | $107,130 |
| 6-person families | $84,579 | $104,186 |
| 7-person families | $102,814 | $109,154 |
Source: US Census
Median Income by Gender
Gender disparities in income remain a critical issue. Men and women in North Carolina experience different median incomes. Here is a comparison of incomes for individuals living alone and not living alone by gender:
| Living Situation | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Living alone | $32,137 | $39,834 |
| Not living alone | $69,035 | $75,192 |
Median Income by Age
According to the American Community Survey 1-Year data, North Carolina’s median income varies by age group. Young individuals aged 15 to 24 earn a median income of $43,453, which is 3.27% higher than the US median of $42,079. On the other hand, those aged 25 to 44 in North Carolina earn $74,876, which is 10.65% lower than the national median of $83,783.
Individuals aged 45 to 64 earn $81,185, about 10.53% lower than the national median of $90,748. Seniors aged 65 and over have a median income of $49,781, 7.75% lower than the US median of $53,963.
| Age Group | North Carolina | US National |
|---|---|---|
| 15 to 24 years | $43,453 | $42,079 |
| 25 to 44 years | $74,876 | $83,783 |
| 45 to 64 years | $81,185 | $90,748 |
| 65 years and over | $49,781 | $53,963 |
Median Income by Race
Median incomes in North Carolina are generally lower than the national averages across different racial groups. White individuals in North Carolina earn $73,675, which is 7.95% lower than the US median.
Black or African American individuals earn $47,088, about 7.49% less than the national median. The most significant disparity is among American Indian and Alaska Native individuals, who earn $43,180, which is 22.79% lower than the national median. Asian individuals earn $107,025, only 0.57% lower than the national figure.
| Race | North Carolina | US National |
|---|---|---|
| White | $73,675 | $80,042 |
| Black or African American | $47,088 | $50,901 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | $43,180 | $55,925 |
| Asian | $107,025 | $107,637 |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | $62,628 | $76,568 |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | $55,935 | $64,936 |
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander individuals earn $62,628, which is 18.21% less than the national median. Hispanic or Latino individuals earn $55,935, which is 13.86% lower than the US median. These figures highlight significant income gaps across racial groups in North Carolina.
Source: US Census
Median Income by Year
Over the 12-year period from 2010 to 2022, North Carolina’s median income saw an overall increase of approximately 55.72%, rising from $43,326 to $67,481.
Similarly, the mean income experienced a growth of 59.78%, moving from $59,053 to $94,353. Focusing on the last decade, from 2012 to 2022, the median income grew by 49.47%, while the mean income increased by 52.70%.
The most significant annual change occurred in 2021 when the median income surged by 8.89% and the mean income by 8.70%, Likely due to economic recovery efforts and stimulus measures following the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the median income increased by 8.89%, and the mean income rose by 8.70%.
| Year | Median Income | Median Income Change (%) | Mean Income | Mean Income Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $67,481 | 8.89% | $94,353 | 8.70% |
| 2021 | $61,972 | 8.89% | $86,804 | 8.70% |
| 2020 | $56,642 | -8.60% | $79,620 | -8.28% |
| 2019 | $57,341 | 1.23% | $80,037 | 0.52% |
| 2018 | $53,855 | -6.08% | $76,693 | -4.18% |
| 2017 | $52,752 | -2.05% | $74,106 | -3.37% |
| 2016 | $50,584 | -4.11% | $70,544 | -4.81% |
| 2015 | $47,830 | -5.44% | $67,516 | -4.29% |
| 2014 | $46,556 | -2.66% | $65,099 | -3.58% |
| 2013 | $45,906 | -1.40% | $64,106 | -1.53% |
| 2012 | $45,150 | -1.65% | $61,807 | -3.59% |
| 2011 | $43,916 | -2.73% | $60,939 | -1.40% |
| 2010 | $43,326 | -1.34% | $59,053 | -3.09% |
Median Income by County
Union County has the highest median income in North Carolina at $95,533, with a poverty rate of 7.1%. The county has the lowest poverty rate with the highest median income. In contrast, Robeson County has the lowest median income at $39,393, and a poverty rate of 26.1%. Bertie County has the highest poverty rate at 23.8%. Chatham County has the highest per capita income at $53,291.
| Median Income | Per Capita Income in 12 months | Poverty Rate | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| $48,340.00 | $26,771.00 | 20.1% | Vance County, NC |
| $95,533.00 | $43,957.00 | 7.1% | Union County, NC |
| $79,120.00 | $34,117.00 | 7.4% | Camden County, NC |
| $96,734.00 | $50,188.00 | 7.5% | Wake County, NC |
| $79,742.00 | $45,669.00 | 7.9% | Dare County, NC |
| $83,828.00 | $38,690.00 | 8.0% | Cabarrus County, NC |
| $71,193.00 | $42,263.00 | 8.5% | Brunswick County, NC |
| $84,222.00 | $53,291.00 | 8.9% | Chatham County, NC |
| $82,793.00 | $40,352.00 | 8.9% | Currituck County, NC |
| $75,672.00 | $40,574.00 | 9.0% | Lincoln County, NC |
| $73,103.00 | $40,959.00 | 9.4% | Iredell County, NC |
| $77,981.00 | $42,094.00 | 9.8% | Moore County, NC |
| $75,288.00 | $35,078.00 | 10.0% | Johnston County, NC |
| $79,265.00 | $48,625.00 | 10.3% | Mecklenburg County, NC |
| $74,538.00 | $36,352.00 | 10.5% | Pender County, NC |
| $57,539.00 | $32,601.00 | 10.5% | Stokes County, NC |
| $70,493.00 | $33,313.00 | 10.9% | Franklin County, NC |
| $74,927.00 | $43,945.00 | 11.1% | Durham County, NC |
| $69,105.00 | $36,570.00 | 11.4% | Davie County, NC |
| $68,079.00 | $31,604.00 | 11.4% | Granville County, NC |
| $56,596.00 | $34,609.00 | 11.6% | Haywood County, NC |
| $67,515.00 | $43,378.00 | 11.7% | New Hanover County, NC |
| $62,628.00 | $33,806.00 | 12.0% | Gaston County, NC |
| $66,965.00 | $39,817.00 | 12.1% | Carteret County, NC |
| $57,486.00 | $32,680.00 | 12.1% | Yadkin County, NC |
| $66,531.00 | $39,495.00 | 12.3% | Buncombe County, NC |
| $65,508.00 | $37,457.00 | 12.3% | Henderson County, NC |
| $62,070.00 | $34,369.00 | 12.3% | Catawba County, NC |
| $59,976.00 | $29,214.00 | 12.4% | Onslow County, NC |
| $51,042.00 | $32,623.00 | 12.4% | Macon County, NC |
| $58,473.00 | $31,024.00 | 12.5% | Davidson County, NC |
| $53,732.00 | $30,633.00 | 12.6% | Burke County, NC |
| $60,634.00 | $30,857.00 | 12.9% | Stanly County, NC |
| $60,465.00 | $35,916.00 | 13.0% | Polk County, NC |
| $85,785.00 | $50,449.00 | 13.3% | Orange County, NC |
| $64,992.00 | $29,678.00 | 13.3% | Harnett County, NC |
| $62,056.00 | $36,660.00 | 13.4% | Transylvania County, NC |
| $59,401.00 | $31,919.00 | 13.4% | Perquimans County, NC |
| $52,818.00 | $28,624.00 | 13.5% | Swain County, NC |
| $57,065.00 | $34,382.00 | 13.6% | Clay County, NC |
| $62,764.00 | $30,510.00 | 13.8% | Alexander County, NC |
| $60,688.00 | $33,456.00 | 13.8% | Person County, NC |
| $61,676.00 | $33,963.00 | 13.9% | Craven County, NC |
| $56,423.00 | $29,131.00 | 14.2% | Randolph County, NC |
| $55,750.00 | $28,091.00 | 14.2% | Gates County, NC |
| $49,176.00 | $29,683.00 | 14.4% | Ashe County, NC |
| $56,770.00 | $31,987.00 | 14.5% | Nash County, NC |
| $57,141.00 | $27,991.00 | 14.6% | Hoke County, NC |
| $61,229.00 | $35,600.00 | 14.7% | Forsyth County, NC |
| $53,513.00 | $30,578.00 | 14.8% | Avery County, NC |
| $53,103.00 | $31,037.00 | 14.8% | Yancey County, NC |
| $46,010.00 | $25,835.00 | 14.8% | Graham County, NC |
| $59,717.00 | $31,108.00 | 14.9% | Rowan County, NC |
| $56,664.00 | $33,821.00 | 15.0% | Madison County, NC |
| $49,254.00 | $28,752.00 | 15.1% | Cherokee County, NC |
| $61,411.00 | $31,762.00 | 15.4% | Pasquotank County, NC |
| $55,867.00 | $32,677.00 | 15.5% | Pamlico County, NC |
| $42,115.00 | $32,330.00 | 15.6% | Alleghany County, NC |
| $55,534.00 | $31,696.00 | 15.7% | Mitchell County, NC |
| $60,941.00 | $30,083.00 | 15.8% | Lee County, NC |
| $55,551.00 | $29,681.00 | 15.9% | Cumberland County, NC |
| $53,532.00 | $29,047.00 | 16.1% | McDowell County, NC |
| $52,362.00 | $29,125.00 | 16.2% | Caldwell County, NC |
| $51,188.00 | $32,479.00 | 16.3% | Chowan County, NC |
| $62,880.00 | $36,563.00 | 16.4% | Guilford County, NC |
| $55,523.00 | $29,346.00 | 16.4% | Montgomery County, NC |
| $50,512.00 | $28,873.00 | 16.4% | Rutherford County, NC |
| $56,999.00 | $27,503.00 | 16.6% | Caswell County, NC |
| $50,723.00 | $27,522.00 | 16.7% | Cleveland County, NC |
| $50,737.00 | $29,239.00 | 17.0% | Rockingham County, NC |
| $53,053.00 | $28,373.00 | 17.1% | Jones County, NC |
| $52,743.00 | $30,274.00 | 17.3% | Surry County, NC |
| $51,482.00 | $31,384.00 | 17.6% | Jackson County, NC |
| $56,081.00 | $32,936.00 | 17.7% | Beaufort County, NC |
| $54,323.00 | $30,540.00 | 18.0% | Wayne County, NC |
| $40,476.00 | $26,544.00 | 18.5% | Bladen County, NC |
| $49,119.00 | $27,592.00 | 19.1% | Wilkes County, NC |
| $54,915.00 | $32,224.00 | 19.5% | Pitt County, NC |
| $45,698.00 | $29,047.00 | 19.6% | Northampton County, NC |
| $41,629.00 | $25,504.00 | 19.6% | Halifax County, NC |
| $55,341.00 | $22,403.00 | 19.7% | Tyrrell County, NC |
| $49,827.00 | $28,715.00 | 19.7% | Wilson County, NC |
| $49,963.00 | $25,969.00 | 20.1% | Sampson County, NC |
| $49,376.00 | $25,428.00 | 20.2% | Duplin County, NC |
| $44,799.00 | $25,769.00 | 20.4% | Martin County, NC |
| $42,282.00 | $29,771.00 | 20.7% | Warren County, NC |
| $46,370.00 | $25,813.00 | 20.8% | Edgecombe County, NC |
| $43,724.00 | $19,258.00 | 20.8% | Hyde County, NC |
| $43,206.00 | $24,236.00 | 20.9% | Columbus County, NC |
| $50,034.00 | $30,807.00 | 21.0% | Watauga County, NC |
| $38,927.00 | $26,209.00 | 21.1% | Washington County, NC |
| $43,063.00 | $26,697.00 | 21.3% | Lenoir County, NC |
| $42,000.00 | $22,854.00 | 22.4% | Anson County, NC |
| $42,354.00 | $24,416.00 | 22.6% | Richmond County, NC |
| $46,196.00 | $25,313.00 | 22.8% | Hertford County, NC |
| $41,652.00 | $27,311.00 | 23.8% | Bertie County, NC |
| $41,948.00 | $24,464.00 | 24.1% | Scotland County, NC |
| $50,320.00 | $21,972.00 | 25.3% | Greene County, NC |
| $39,393.00 | $21,998.00 | 26.1% | Robeson County, NC |
Source: Census
