HomeNorth CarolinaPerson County
Person County, North Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Person County, North Carolina had an estimated 40,143 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.7 percent since the 2020 census base of 39,085, across 392 square miles. County output reached $2.10 bn in 2024, 725 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 22 7(a) approvals worth $13.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Person County
How many people live in Person County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202439,542
- Households16,063
- Average household size2.46
- Median household income$63,300
- Median age44.2
- Median gross rent$864 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$213,900
- Home value to household income3.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher19.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over28,089
- Population under 188,159
- Share under 1820.6 percent
- Population 65 and over8,418
- Share 65 and over21.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6422,965
- Civilian labor force19,614
- Unemployment rate5.6 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.5 percent
- Rank by population among North Carolina counties63rd of 100
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1221st of 3,222
Person County is the 63rd largest of 100 North Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 3.4 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 21.3 percent against 20.6 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Person County
Is Person County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202440,143
- Census 2020 base population39,085
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.71 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024311
- Births, 2024386
- Deaths, 2024550
- Natural change, 2024-164
- Net domestic migration, 2024357
- Net international migration, 2024117
- Total net migration, 2024474
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,220
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents948th of 3,144
The county has grown 2.71 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Person County
Where are people moving to Person County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving931
- People arriving, from those returns1,717
- Tax returns filed by households leaving675
- Net household movement256
- Adjusted gross income arriving$53.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$21.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$57,640
- Average income of a leaving household$47,791
- Largest single originDurham County (246 households)
- Largest single destinationDurham County (124 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham County | 246 | 495 | $14.3 m |
| Orange County | 94 | 198 | $5.9 m |
| Wake County | 83 | 142 | $7.9 m |
| Granville County | 49 | 100 | $2.1 m |
| Alamance County | 46 | 78 | $1.9 m |
| Caswell County | 35 | 61 | $3.5 m |
| Halifax County | 24 | 45 | $717,000 |
Households arriving report $9,849 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Durham County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Person County
What is the Person County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.10 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.90 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 202410.5 percent
- GDP change over five years34.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the North Carolina areas BEA publishes59th of 100
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1234th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$53,165
Output grew 10.5 percent in the latest year and 34.0 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Person County
Employment by industry in Person County
- Covered employment, annual average9,288
- Establishments reporting818
- Average annual pay$50,063
- Average weekly wage$963
- Retail trade, employment1,565
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,136
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,217
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$55,509
- Manufacturing, employment1,174
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$66,924
- Accommodation and food services, employment921
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$19,882
- Wholesale trade, employment606
- Construction, employment528
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 1,565 | 129 | $32,136 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,217 | 93 | $55,509 |
| Manufacturing | 1,174 | 32 | $66,924 |
| Accommodation and food services | 921 | 54 | $19,882 |
| Wholesale trade | 606 | 25 | $51,378 |
| Construction | 528 | 108 | $62,137 |
| Other services, except public administration | 295 | 72 | $41,928 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 246 | 67 | $37,573 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,565 jobs, 16.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Person County
How many businesses are in Person County?
- Establishments, all industries725
- Employment at those establishments8,458
- Annual payroll$371.7 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents18.3
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Person County
Building permits in Person County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024113
- Declared construction value permitted$35.4 m
- Single family units authorized113
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$313,185
- Units authorized per 1,000 households7.0
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Person County
SBA loans in Person County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded22
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$13.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$602,641
- Median 7(a) approval$200,000
- 10th percentile approval$50,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,051,090
- Largest single approval$3,826,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)296
- Jobs per approval13.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active13
- Distinct industries receiving approvals13
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer22.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms5
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter15
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals4.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (5)
- 504 approvals recorded3
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.3 m
- Average 504 approval$421,000
- Median 504 approval$378,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval5.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved11.9
- Most active CDCBusiness Expansion Funding Corporation (3)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$14.5 m
The average approval of $602,641 sits well above the median of $200,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 22.7 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
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.
Person County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Person County
Do SBA loans in Person County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded3
- Paid in full3
- Charged off0
- Status: Cancelled7
- Status: Exempt from disclosure12
- Status: Paid in full3
Only 3 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Person County
SBA lending by place in Person County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending2
- Roxboro, approvals18
- Timberlake, approvals4
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Roxboro | 18 | $9,309,200 |
| Timberlake | 4 | $3,948,900 |
Roxboro accounts for 18 approvals against 4 in Timberlake. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Person County
How large is Person County?
- Land area392 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Carolina counties65th of 100
- Width, east to west20 mi
- Height, north to south21.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land101
- Establishments per square mile1.85
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. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Person County
Flood risk in Person County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Person County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 370346
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book2
- Of those, participating in the NFIP2
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Person County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Person County (community 370346), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Person County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Person County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Person County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202439,542
- Households16,063
- Average household size2.46
- Median household income$63,300
- Median age44.2
Common questions
Person County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Person County, North Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates 40,143 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 39,542, in 16,063 households, ranking 63rd of 100 North Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Person County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.71 percent since the 2020 census base of 39,085, to 40,143 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 386 births against 550 deaths, with net migration of 474. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Person County?
$63,300. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $213,900, which is 3.4 times income, and median gross rent is $864 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Person County?
725 establishments, employing 8,458 people with an annual payroll of $371.7 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Person County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,565 jobs, 16.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 9,288 jobs at an average annual pay of $50,063, or $963 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Person County?
22 7(a) approvals totaling $13.3 m since FY2020, across 13 lenders, with a median approval of $200,000, plus 3 504 approvals worth $1.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Person County?
113 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $35.4 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Person County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Person County come from?
The largest single origin is Durham County, with 246 households. Arriving households report an average income of $57,640 against $47,791 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Person County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Person County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Person County
Cities and places in Person.
2 Census places lie wholly or partly in Person County. All 2 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roxboro | city | 8,182 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Rougemont | CDP | 703 | None recorded | 13.0 percent here, 87.0 percent Durham County |
A further 4 of the county's 22 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Person County, the largest being Timberlake (4). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.