Columbus County, North Carolina
Building Permits, 2025 55
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 50,487
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 50,054
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 50,630
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 50,625
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) -0.3%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) -1.1%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 50,623
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 58,098
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 5.6%
Persons under 18 years, percent 20.5%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 21.4%
Female persons, percent 50.0%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 63.1%
Black alone, percent(a) 30.0%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 3.7%
Asian alone, percent(a) 0.7%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) 0.1%
Two or More Races, percent 2.4%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 5.9%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 59.0%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 2,668
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 3.3%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 23,724
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 71.1%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $146,000
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $1,245
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $458
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $824
Building Permits, 2025 55
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 20,048
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.39
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 91.6%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 5.9%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 90.8%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 83.1%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 86.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 14.6%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 12.5%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 13.3%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 50.6%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 48.6%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 86,495
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 299,509
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 37,240
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 655,890
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $13,098
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 29.3
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $49,442
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $27,773
Persons in poverty, percent 19.3%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 997
Total employment, 2023 11,658
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) 496,878
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 -5.8%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 3,575
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 677
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 423
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 54.0
Population per square mile, 2010 62.0
Land area in square miles, 2020 938.12
Land area in square miles, 2010 937.29
FIPS Code 37047