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North Carolina commercial real estate data, county by county.
The Census Bureau estimates 11,046,024 residents in North Carolina on July 1, 2024. Every one of its 100 county-equivalents has a data page built from federal sources, each figure carrying its publisher and the period it describes.
- Population, July 1, 2024
- 11,046,024
- Households
- 4,282,345
- Median household income
- $72,388
- Gross domestic product, 2025
- $893.76 bn
- Unemployment rate
- 3.5 percent
North Carolina agency publications and federal agency publications
What changes the underwriting in North Carolina?
Coastal development permitting
A project in one of North Carolina's 20 CAMA counties may need to obtain a state development permit. Land inside an Area of Environmental Concern in one of those counties is subject to more thorough regulatory controls than land in the second tier outside those areas.
- Areas of Environmental Concern
- coastal wetlands
- estuarine shorelines
- ocean beaches
- frontal dunes
- Coastal counties covered20
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office for Coastal Management, February 9, 2012, retrieved 26 September 2026.
State funded project review
A North Carolina project can trigger State Environmental Policy Act review when it draws more than $10,000,000 in state funds for a single project, or causes substantial, permanent changes to the natural cover or topography of ten acres or more of public land. The act traces to 1971 under G.S. 113A, Article 1.
- state funding trigger
- public land disturbance trigger
- State funding threshold$10,000,000
Source: North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, retrieved 26 September 2026.
Riparian buffer protection
State riparian buffer rules protect vegetated areas along streams, lakes, reservoirs, ponds and estuaries in the Neuse, Tar-Pamlico, Catawba, Randleman Lake, Jordan Lake and Goose Creek basins.
- Neuse
- Tar-Pamlico
- Catawba
- Randleman Lake
- Jordan Lake
- Goose Creek
Source: North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Resources, retrieved 26 September 2026.
County tier incentive ranking
A commercial project's county tier under G.S. 143B-437.08 determines its eligibility for state grant programs such as the One North Carolina Fund. Tier designations also play a role in the state's Job Development Investment Grant program by channeling funds into the Utility Account of the Industrial Development Fund for more distressed counties. Commerce reassigns all 100 counties across three tiers every year, and for 2026 that split is 40 Tier 1 counties, 40 Tier 2 counties and 20 Tier 3 counties.
- Tier 1
- Tier 2
- Tier 3
- Tier 1 counties, 202640
- Tier 2 counties, 202640
- Tier 3 counties, 202620
Source: North Carolina Department of Commerce, Wednesday, November 26, 2025, retrieved 26 September 2026.
Census Bureau population estimates and 2020 Census
How many people live in North Carolina, and is the population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202411,046,024
- Population, April 1, 2020 estimates base10,441,499
- Change since the 2020 base5.79 percent
- Rank by population among the 50 states and DC9th of 51
- Rank by growth since 2020 among the 50 states and DC8th of 51
- Share of residents in urban areas, 202066.7 percent
Net domestic and international migration, by year to July 1
- 2021: domestic +103,202, international +9,924
- 2022: domestic +99,380, international +43,024
- 2023: domestic +98,981, international +57,839
- 2024: domestic +82,288, international +69,792
Change since 2020 is MMCG Analytics arithmetic on the two published estimates; ranks order the 50 states and the District of Columbia by the published figure; the urban share divides the published urban count by the published total.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024. US Census Bureau, 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics, table P2. Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics; the rest are the agency's own figures for North Carolina.
Census Bureau American Community Survey
Who lives in North Carolina?
- Households4,282,345
- Median household income$72,388
- Median age39.1 years
- Residents under 1821.8 percent
- Residents 65 and over17.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher35.7 percent
- Median home value$288,900
- Median gross rent, per month$1,228
The three shares are MMCG Analytics arithmetic on published counts: the survey's age groups under 18 and 65 and over, and its degree counts, each divided by the published total.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020 to 2024. Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics; the rest are the agency's own figures for North Carolina.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
How many people are working in North Carolina?
- Labor force5,231,098
- Employed5,049,056
- Unemployed182,042
- Unemployment rate3.5 percent
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, August 2026, preliminary. Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics; the rest are the agency's own figures for North Carolina.
Bureau of Economic Analysis, gross domestic product by state
How large is the North Carolina economy?
- Gross domestic product, 2025$893.76 bn
- Gross domestic product, 2024$844.21 bn
- Gross domestic product, 2023$794.84 bn
- Gross domestic product, 2022$729.76 bn
- Gross domestic product, 2021$660.80 bn
- Rank by 2025 gross domestic product among the 50 states and DC10th of 51
The rank orders the 50 states and the District of Columbia by the published figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional accounts, table SAGDP2, 2021 to 2025. Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics; the rest are the agency's own figures for North Carolina.
SBA 7(a) and 504 loan records
How active is SBA lending in North Carolina?
- 7(a) loans approved, FY2020 to FY20268,887
- 7(a) approval dollars, FY2020 to FY2026$6.24 bn
- Rank by 7(a) loan count among the 50 states and DC, FY2020 to FY202615th of 51
- 504 loans approved, FY2010 to FY20261,605
- 504 approval dollars, FY2010 to FY2026$1.37 bn
- Rank by 504 loan count among the 50 states and DC, FY2010 to FY202624th of 51
Most active 7(a) lenders, by loans approved, FY2020 to FY2026
- Live Oak Banking Company: 655 loans
- The Huntington National Bank: 583 loans
- Wells Fargo Bank National Association: 554 loans
- Northeast Bank: 427 loans
- Newtek Bank, National Association: 349 loans
Most active Certified Development Companies, by 504 loans, FY2010 to FY2026
- Business Expansion Funding Corporation: 1,070 loans
- Carolina Business Capital, Inc.: 225 loans
- SBA CLSC Servicing: 178 loans
- 504 Capital Corporation: 93 loans
- Florida Business Development Corporation: 6 loans
Industries with the most 7(a) loans, FY2020 to FY2026
- Full-Service Restaurants: 416 loans
- Limited-Service Restaurants: 327 loans
- Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels: 283 loans
- Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers: 255 loans
- Residential Remodelers: 180 loans
Every figure here is MMCG Analytics arithmetic over the SBA's loan-level records whose project state is North Carolina: counts of records, sums of the gross approval amount, and ranks among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. These are approvals, not disbursements or balances.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA loan records, FY2020 to FY2026, records as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA loan records, FY2010 to FY2026, records as of 2026-06-30. Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics; the rest are the agency's own figures for North Carolina.
FEMA NFIP Community Status Book and EPA radon zones
How do flood insurance and radon screening stand in North Carolina?
- Communities participating in the NFIP593
- Communities earning a Community Rating System discount, classes 1 to 999
- Counties in EPA radon zone 1, the highest predicted level8
- Counties in EPA radon zone 231
- Counties in EPA radon zone 361
Communities by Community Rating System class (class 1 earns the largest discount, class 10 none)
- Class 2: 1
- Class 5: 11
- Class 6: 15
- Class 7: 29
- Class 8: 36
- Class 9: 7
- Class 10: 5
Every figure here is MMCG Analytics counting over the agency's own list: FEMA's community rows for the state, and the state's county records by EPA radon zone. Radon zones are county-wide predictions, never a site measurement.
FEMA, NFIP Community Status Book, as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001. Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics; the rest are the agency's own figures for North Carolina.
What do jobs in North Carolina pay, county by county?
- Combined county product, 2024$844.21 bn
- Covered employment, summed over counties4,658,302
- Average annual pay, weighted by county employment$66,360
The average annual pay of $66,360 is weighted by each county's covered employment, not averaged across counties, so a large labor market counts for more than a small one.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, through 2024. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages. Every figure in this section is computed by MMCG Analytics from the county records on this site.
How many businesses are in North Carolina?
- Business establishments, summed over counties257,080
- Establishments per 1,000 residents of those counties24.0
- Employment at those establishments4,127,093
- Annual payroll$250.32 bn
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Every figure in this section is computed by MMCG Analytics from the county records on this site.
Building permits in North Carolina
- Housing units permitted, summed over counties95,163
- Permitted construction value$24.31 bn
- Units permitted per 1,000 households22.2
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual. Every figure in this section is computed by MMCG Analytics from the county records on this site.
SBA loan charge-off rates in North Carolina
- 7(a) charge-off rate over resolved loans5.90 percent
- Resolved 7(a) loans behind that rate1,551
- 7(a) loans charged off91
- 504 charge-off rate over resolved loans2.00 percent
- Resolved 504 loans behind that rate562
- 504 loans charged off11
Of the 1,551 North Carolina 7(a) loans that have reached a final outcome, 5.90 percent were charged off. The rate is taken over loans resolved in a window starting in FY2020, so it leans toward early outcomes and is not a lifetime loss rate.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates →
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. Every figure in this section is computed by MMCG Analytics from the county records on this site.
How large is North Carolina?
- Land area, summed over counties48,622 sq mi
- County-equivalents100
- People per square mile, county records221
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. Every figure in this section is computed by MMCG Analytics from the county records on this site.
Which are the largest counties in North Carolina?
| Geography | Population | Median income | Establishments | County GDP | SBA approvals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wake County | 1,178,653 | $105,768 | 33,873 | $128.43 bn | 1,660 |
| Mecklenburg County | 1,154,681 | $87,005 | 36,472 | $186.11 bn | 1,836 |
| Guilford County | 547,940 | $68,642 | 14,306 | $46.94 bn | 517 |
| Forsyth County | 389,977 | $67,165 | 9,141 | $34.37 bn | 300 |
| Cumberland County | 338,545 | $61,291 | 5,947 | $24.44 bn | 203 |
| Durham County | 332,353 | $82,316 | 8,282 | $53.29 bn | 370 |
| Buncombe County | 274,360 | $74,436 | 9,863 | $21.26 bn | 414 |
| Union County | 250,958 | $102,900 | 5,732 | $13.11 bn | 338 |
| Cabarrus County | 236,133 | $89,005 | 5,279 | $12.96 bn | 257 |
| New Hanover County | 235,229 | $75,166 | 8,710 | $21.04 bn | 432 |
Counties
All 100 North Carolina county-equivalents, resolved locally.
Select a county
Every county opens a page carrying its own demographics, growth and migration, economic output, employment and wages, business establishments by industry, construction, SBA lending and charge off record, geography and hazard.
| Geography | Population | Median income | Establishments | County GDP | SBA approvals | Land area, sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alamance County | 176,893 | $65,651 | 3,652 | $9.01 bn | 113 | 424 |
| Alexander County | 36,412 | $65,354 | 598 | $1.20 bn | 20 | 260 |
| Alleghany County | 11,174 | $47,172 | 257 | $420.0 m | 7 | 235 |
| Anson County | 22,289 | $47,302 | 380 | $1.17 bn | 9 | 531 |
| Ashe County | 26,950 | $56,866 | 571 | $1.07 bn | 14 | 426 |
| Avery County | 17,680 | $61,428 | 539 | $890.3 m | 6 | 247 |
| Beaufort County | 44,499 | $58,357 | 1,138 | $2.37 bn | 34 | 827 |
| Bertie County | 17,170 | $48,750 | 277 | $797.9 m | 7 | 699 |
| Bladen County | 29,566 | $42,422 | 540 | $1.86 bn | 6 | 874 |
| Brunswick County | 152,568 | $77,024 | 3,093 | $8.08 bn | 132 | 847 |
| Buncombe County | 274,360 | $74,436 | 9,863 | $21.26 bn | 414 | 657 |
| Burke County | 87,795 | $58,592 | 1,540 | $3.72 bn | 52 | 507 |
| Cabarrus County | 236,133 | $89,005 | 5,279 | $12.96 bn | 257 | 362 |
| Caldwell County | 80,536 | $56,425 | 1,414 | $3.31 bn | 33 | 472 |
| Camden County | 10,927 | $91,078 | 124 | $226.1 m | 5 | 241 |
| Carteret County | 69,148 | $72,322 | 2,249 | $3.74 bn | 73 | 506 |
| Caswell County | 22,404 | $59,755 | 242 | $531.3 m | 10 | 425 |
| Catawba County | 163,573 | $67,864 | 4,349 | $12.40 bn | 148 | 399 |
| Chatham County | 80,151 | $94,317 | 1,719 | $2.92 bn | 87 | 682 |
| Cherokee County | 29,562 | $53,628 | 649 | $1.18 bn | 14 | 455 |
| Chowan County | 13,836 | $53,864 | 372 | $723.0 m | 8 | 172 |
| Clay County | 11,610 | $56,971 | 252 | $328.2 m | 6 | 215 |
| Cleveland County | 100,991 | $58,534 | 2,028 | $6.03 bn | 52 | 464 |
| Columbus County | 50,140 | $49,442 | 997 | $1.92 bn | 17 | 937 |
| Craven County | 102,612 | $65,873 | 2,224 | $6.91 bn | 67 | 709 |
| Cumberland County | 338,545 | $61,291 | 5,947 | $24.44 bn | 203 | 652 |
| Currituck County | 30,601 | $93,511 | 766 | $1.15 bn | 30 | 262 |
| Dare County | 37,875 | $88,994 | 2,079 | $3.09 bn | 88 | 383 |
| Davidson County | 172,954 | $64,172 | 2,994 | $7.13 bn | 91 | 553 |
| Davie County | 44,122 | $75,057 | 877 | $1.97 bn | 23 | 264 |
| Duplin County | 49,335 | $55,148 | 870 | $2.91 bn | 22 | 816 |
| Durham County | 332,353 | $82,316 | 8,282 | $53.29 bn | 370 | 286 |
| Edgecombe County | 48,736 | $51,265 | 702 | $1.99 bn | 7 | 505 |
| Forsyth County | 389,977 | $67,165 | 9,141 | $34.37 bn | 300 | 408 |
| Franklin County | 74,386 | $74,240 | 1,228 | $2.88 bn | 55 | 492 |
| Gaston County | 234,881 | $67,478 | 4,594 | $11.26 bn | 210 | 356 |
| Gates County | 10,376 | $66,333 | 115 | $240.0 m | 4 | 340 |
| Graham County | 8,072 | $49,684 | 164 | $329.9 m | 6 | 292 |
| Granville County | 60,877 | $71,111 | 962 | $4.94 bn | 32 | 532 |
| Greene County | 20,486 | $53,244 | 271 | $626.3 m | 12 | 266 |
| Guilford County | 547,940 | $68,642 | 14,306 | $46.94 bn | 517 | 646 |
| Halifax County | 47,675 | $45,590 | 934 | $1.94 bn | 23 | 724 |
| Harnett County | 139,150 | $71,287 | 1,960 | $3.97 bn | 77 | 595 |
| Haywood County | 62,662 | $61,912 | 1,546 | $2.60 bn | 66 | 554 |
| Henderson County | 118,484 | $68,187 | 3,085 | $6.37 bn | 134 | 373 |
| Hertford County | 19,908 | $45,537 | 459 | $1.08 bn | 3 | 353 |
| Hoke County | 53,835 | $64,912 | 491 | $1.64 bn | 19 | 391 |
| Hyde County | 4,592 | $53,713 | 150 | $230.7 m | 8 | 613 |
| Iredell County | 196,544 | $81,419 | 5,405 | $13.55 bn | 254 | 574 |
| Jackson County | 43,771 | $55,815 | 1,113 | $2.19 bn | 29 | 491 |
| Johnston County | 234,263 | $83,384 | 4,151 | $11.57 bn | 161 | 791 |
| Jones County | 9,302 | $59,641 | 125 | $306.6 m | 3 | 471 |
| Lee County | 65,816 | $65,387 | 1,460 | $4.26 bn | 60 | 255 |
| Lenoir County | 54,919 | $45,143 | 1,220 | $3.63 bn | 16 | 401 |
| Lincoln County | 92,716 | $80,016 | 2,081 | $4.74 bn | 91 | 298 |
| Macon County | 37,941 | $59,061 | 1,282 | $2.13 bn | 37 | 516 |
| Madison County | 21,867 | $58,531 | 402 | $632.1 m | 24 | 450 |
| Martin County | 21,644 | $48,578 | 426 | $808.0 m | 4 | 461 |
| McDowell County | 44,817 | $57,168 | 822 | $2.77 bn | 17 | 441 |
| Mecklenburg County | 1,154,681 | $87,005 | 36,472 | $186.11 bn | 1,836 | 524 |
| Mitchell County | 14,992 | $57,602 | 371 | $681.3 m | 5 | 221 |
| Montgomery County | 26,007 | $57,766 | 503 | $1.47 bn | 10 | 492 |
| Moore County | 104,876 | $86,080 | 2,516 | $5.74 bn | 91 | 698 |
| Nash County | 96,216 | $62,426 | 2,114 | $7.18 bn | 75 | 540 |
| New Hanover County | 235,229 | $75,166 | 8,710 | $21.04 bn | 432 | 192 |
| Northampton County | 16,931 | $50,086 | 255 | $738.9 m | 1 | 537 |
| Onslow County | 207,906 | $68,148 | 3,080 | $12.50 bn | 149 | 763 |
| Orange County | 149,678 | $90,089 | 3,491 | $13.07 bn | 128 | 398 |
| Pamlico County | 12,390 | $59,717 | 261 | $378.0 m | 4 | 337 |
| Pasquotank County | 40,834 | $66,589 | 931 | $2.21 bn | 45 | 227 |
| Pender County | 65,550 | $80,396 | 1,499 | $2.52 bn | 60 | 870 |
| Perquimans County | 13,244 | $67,917 | 184 | $391.6 m | 2 | 247 |
| Person County | 39,542 | $63,300 | 725 | $2.10 bn | 25 | 392 |
| Pitt County | 177,193 | $58,188 | 3,817 | $12.53 bn | 140 | 652 |
| Polk County | 19,891 | $67,758 | 504 | $734.5 m | 20 | 238 |
| Randolph County | 146,348 | $61,022 | 2,651 | $5.99 bn | 77 | 783 |
| Richmond County | 42,344 | $44,883 | 814 | $2.62 bn | 31 | 474 |
| Robeson County | 116,902 | $41,978 | 1,787 | $5.04 bn | 44 | 949 |
| Rockingham County | 92,131 | $57,053 | 1,632 | $3.85 bn | 45 | 566 |
| Rowan County | 149,875 | $65,725 | 2,908 | $7.89 bn | 88 | 511 |
| Rutherford County | 64,930 | $51,410 | 1,289 | $2.49 bn | 44 | 564 |
| Sampson County | 59,470 | $52,432 | 1,014 | $2.55 bn | 23 | 945 |
| Scotland County | 33,590 | $45,730 | 624 | $1.56 bn | 17 | 319 |
| Stanly County | 64,651 | $60,704 | 1,459 | $2.78 bn | 56 | 395 |
| Stokes County | 45,139 | $62,969 | 674 | $1.76 bn | 22 | 449 |
| Surry County | 71,425 | $55,656 | 1,661 | $3.54 bn | 95 | 532 |
| Swain County | 14,013 | $52,349 | 382 | $916.3 m | 16 | 528 |
| Transylvania County | 33,691 | $66,184 | 1,011 | $2.39 bn | 28 | 379 |
| Tyrrell County | 3,423 | $41,685 | 71 | $125.7 m | 1 | 389 |
| Union County | 250,958 | $102,900 | 5,732 | $13.11 bn | 338 | 632 |
| Vance County | 42,322 | $50,465 | 880 | $1.69 bn | 26 | 254 |
| Wake County | 1,178,653 | $105,768 | 33,873 | $128.43 bn | 1,660 | 835 |
| Warren County | 18,795 | $50,638 | 291 | $407.3 m | 6 | 428 |
| Washington County | 10,812 | $41,813 | 221 | $355.7 m | 6 | 348 |
| Watauga County | 55,123 | $51,693 | 1,740 | $3.19 bn | 53 | 313 |
| Wayne County | 118,652 | $59,733 | 2,195 | $6.77 bn | 57 | 553 |
| Wilkes County | 65,935 | $51,721 | 1,157 | $3.23 bn | 67 | 754 |
| Wilson County | 79,290 | $56,423 | 1,818 | $5.17 bn | 49 | 368 |
| Yadkin County | 37,574 | $62,932 | 650 | $1.33 bn | 18 | 335 |
| Yancey County | 18,797 | $58,709 | 357 | $605.1 m | 13 | 313 |
A statement appears on this page only where a published document, or arithmetic over published data, supports it. How this page was built →
Questions
North Carolina questions, answered from this page.
What is the population of North Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates 11,046,024 residents on July 1, 2024 (Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024).
What is the unemployment rate in North Carolina?
3.5 percent in August 2026, preliminary, seasonally adjusted, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How many SBA 7(a) loans were approved in North Carolina?
8,887 loans with a project in North Carolina, counted by MMCG Analytics from the SBA's 7(a) loan records, FY2020 to FY2026, records as of 2026-06-30.
How many counties does North Carolina have?
100. Each has a page on this site covering population, income, business establishments, employment and wages, building permits, SBA lending and hazard records.
The register