McDowell County, North Carolina Population 2024

45,031

McDowell County, North Carolina's estimated 2024 population is 45,031 with a growth rate of 0.31% in the past year according to the most recent United States census data. McDowell County, North Carolina is the 58th largest county in North Carolina. The 2010 population was 45,102 and has seen a growth of -0.16% since that time.

Note: data after 2022 is projected based on recent change

35 Rows

Year
Population
Growth
Change
202945,7211380.3%
202845,5831380.3%
202745,4451380.3%
202645,3071380.31%
202545,1691380.31%
202445,0311380.31%
202344,8931380.31%
202244,7552250.51%
202144,530-17-0.04%
202044,547-1,237-2.7%
201945,7843030.67%
201845,4813920.87%
201745,0892130.47%
201644,876-106-0.24%
201544,982-35-0.08%
201445,017-10-0.02%
201345,027220.05%
201245,005-51-0.11%
201145,056-46-0.1%
201045,10200%
199035,6815461.55%
198035,1354,48714.64%
197030,6483,90614.61%
196026,7421,0223.97%
195025,7202,72411.85%
194022,9962,66013.08%
193020,3363,57321.31%
192016,7633,22523.82%
191013,5389717.73%
190012,5671,62814.88%
189010,9391,10311.21%
18809,8362,24429.56%
18707,5924726.63%
18607,12087413.99%
18506,246-39,475-86.34%
2024 Growth Rate
0.31% (138)
County Website
McDowell County
2020 Population
44,547
Area
440 mi²
Density
102 people/mi²
Growth Since 2020
1.09% (484)
Founded
1842

Population by Race

Race
Population
Percentage (of total)
White39,73289.03%
Black or African American1,6213.63%
Two or more races1,5773.53%
Other race1,0212.29%
Asian4721.06%
Native American2060.46%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander00%

White

Black or African American

Two or more races

Other race

Asian

Native American

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

McDowell County, North Carolina Population by Race

McDowell County, North Carolina Population Pyramid 2024

McDowell County, North Carolina Median Age

44.3

Total

42.6

Male

46.2

Female

McDowell County, North Carolina Adults

There are 35,864 adults, (9,188 of whom are seniors) in McDowell County, North Carolina.

McDowell County, North Carolina Age Dependency

67.3

Age Dependency Ratio

34.4

Old Age Dependency Ratio

32.9

Child Dependency Ratio

McDowell County, North Carolina Sex Ratio

Female22,10849.54%
Male22,52150.46%

McDowell County, North Carolina Population by Age

McDowell County, North Carolina Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

Household Type
Count
Average Size
Owner
Renter
All18,1842.3773.426.6
Married9,5202.8983.616.4
Non Family5,4481.1562.537.5
Female2,378358.441.6
Male8382.771.528.5

2.82

Average Family Size

2.37

Average Household Size

73.4%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

McDowell County, North Carolina Households and Families

Male

Female

Education Attained
Count
Percentage
9th to 12th Grade3,1819.75%
Associates Degree4,20712.9%
Bachelors Degree4,06012.45%
Graduate Degree1,7985.51%
High School Graduate11,22334.41%
Less Than 9th Grade1,3324.08%
Some College6,81120.88%

Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

McDowell County, North Carolina Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

McDowell County, North Carolina Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

Race
Total
High School
Bachelors
White29,09925,4225,359
Hispanic1,467949224
Black1,23298753
2+ Races664522116
Other Race52323850
Asian342306138
Native American19319329

The highest rate of high school graduation is among native american people with a rate of 100%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 40.35%.

McDowell County, North Carolina Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

Name
Average
Male
Female
Bachelors Degree$50,401$66,714$42,720
Graduate Degree$62,021$90,000$54,773
High School Graduate$35,420$39,358$29,093
Less Than 9th Grade$27,540$29,308$17,639
Overall$39,138$40,964$36,778
Some College$40,372$42,109$38,945

$39,138

Average Earnings

$40,964

Average Male

$36,778

Average Female

McDowell County, North Carolina Earnings by Educational Attainment

McDowell County, North Carolina Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

McDowell County, North Carolina Language

92.21% of McDowell County, North Carolina residents speak only English, while 7.79% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 5.86% of the population.

McDowell County, North Carolina Language

McDowell County, North Carolina Poverty by Race

rate

Name
Total
In Poverty
Poverty Rate
White37,9095,00613.21%
Hispanic2,8331,01835.93%
Multiple1,53367844.23%
Other1,02127927.33%
Black1,16726923.05%
Native1453423.45%

14.94%

Overall Poverty Rate

13.37%

Male Poverty Rate

16.47%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in McDowell County, North Carolina

The race most likely to be in poverty in McDowell County, North Carolina is Multiple, with 44.23% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in McDowell County, North Carolina is White, with 13.21% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.33%. Among those working part-time, it was 19.63%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 21.79%.

McDowell County, North Carolina Poverty

rate

Rate
Poverty
Less Than 9th Grade31.29%
High School15.93%
Some College8.66%
Bachelors or Greater6%

McDowell County, North Carolina Poverty Rate by Education

rate

Rate
Poverty
Male Unemployed37.94%
Female Unemployed26.98%
Female Employed7.13%
Male Employed6.74%

McDowell County, North Carolina Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

McDowell County, North Carolina Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

Name
Median
Mean
Families$65,510$81,857
Households$53,532$70,427
Married Families$72,132$-999,999,999
Non Families$27,903$38,828

mean

median

Income by Household Type

McDowell County, North Carolina Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

54.2%

Overall Marriage Rate

53.6%

Male Marriage Rate

54.9%

Female Marriage Rate

McDowell County, North Carolina Married by Age and Sex

male

female

McDowell County, North Carolina Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.

McDowell County, North Carolina Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

McDowell County, North Carolina Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

2,926

Number of Veterans

2,719

Male Veterans

207

Female Veterans

War
Veterans
Vietnam1,271
Second Gulf War471
First Gulf War310
Korea216
World War II39

McDowell County, North Carolina Veterans by War

count

Age Group
Veterans
65 to 74946
75+778
35 to 54585
55 to 64431
18 to 34186

McDowell County, North Carolina Veterans by Age

count

Name
Veterans
% of Total
White2,7920.08595000615687723
Black1070.07508771929824562
2+ Races180.022167487684729065
Native American90.046632124352331605

McDowell County, North Carolina Veterans by Race

McDowell County, North Carolina Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

9.3%

Veteran Poverty Rate

45.45%

Veteran Disability Rate

McDowell County, North Carolina Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

53.8%

Labor Force Participation

50.9%

Employment Rate

5.5%

Unemployment Rate

McDowell County, North Carolina Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

McDowell County, North Carolina Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

McDowell County, North Carolina Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

72.28%

Born in McDowell County, North Carolina

95.94%

Native Born

4.06%

Foreign Born

2.8%

Non Citizen

1.26%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

95.94% of McDowell County, North Carolina residents were born in the United States, with 72.28% having been born in North Carolina. 2.8% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.

McDowell County, North Carolina Place of Birth

Sources