McDowell County, North Carolina
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 45,269
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 45,198
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 45,269
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 44,584
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 44,583
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) 1.4%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) 1.5%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 44,578
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 44,996
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 4.5%
Persons under 18 years, percent 18.8%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 22.2%
Female persons, percent 49.7%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 91.5%
Black alone, percent(a) 4.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 1.0%
Asian alone, percent(a) 1.3%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) 0.1%
Two or More Races, percent 1.9%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 7.7%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 85.2%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 2,760
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 3.2%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 22,036
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 75.6%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $171,100
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $1,161
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $328
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $806
Building Permits, 2025 164
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 18,638
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.33
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 90.5%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 7.2%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 89.7%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 83.6%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 85.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 18.1%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 12.5%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 12.4%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 54.5%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 50.8%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 82,391
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 195,112
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 13,661
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 767,568
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $17,150
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 24.7
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $57,168
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $30,395
Persons in poverty, percent 15.5%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 822
Total employment, 2023 13,495
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) 630,578
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 -1.3%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 2,948
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 724
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 51
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 101.3
Population per square mile, 2010 102.1
Land area in square miles, 2020 439.95
Land area in square miles, 2010 440.61
FIPS Code 37111