HomeNorth CarolinaRowan County
Rowan County, North Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Rowan County, North Carolina had an estimated 153,384 residents on July 1, 2024, up 4.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 146,875, across 511 square miles. County output reached $7.89 bn in 2024, 2,908 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 65 7(a) approvals worth $55.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Rowan County
How many people live in Rowan County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024149,875
- Households58,899
- Average household size2.54
- Median household income$65,725
- Median age40.4
- Median gross rent$1,013 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$238,400
- Home value to household income3.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher23.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over103,579
- Population under 1833,228
- Share under 1822.2 percent
- Population 65 and over26,593
- Share 65 and over17.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6490,054
- Civilian labor force71,927
- Unemployment rate5.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over61.7 percent
- Rank by population among North Carolina counties20th of 100
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included458th of 3,222
Rowan County is the 20th largest of 100 North Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 3.6 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.2 percent against 17.7 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Rowan County
Is Rowan County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024153,384
- Census 2020 base population146,875
- Population change since the 2020 census base4.43 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241,501
- Births, 20241,622
- Deaths, 20241,873
- Natural change, 2024-251
- Net domestic migration, 20241,248
- Net international migration, 2024503
- Total net migration, 20241,751
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20246,734
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents624th of 3,144
The county has grown 4.43 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.
Rowan County
Where are people moving to Rowan County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving4,381
- People arriving, from those returns8,034
- Tax returns filed by households leaving3,399
- Net household movement982
- Adjusted gross income arriving$241.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$67.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$55,121
- Average income of a leaving household$51,202
- Largest single originCabarrus County (1,148 households)
- Largest single destinationCabarrus County (734 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabarrus County | 1,148 | 2,214 | $60.7 m |
| Mecklenburg County | 649 | 1,190 | $37.6 m |
| Iredell County | 363 | 665 | $19.4 m |
| Davidson County | 183 | 337 | $6.7 m |
| Stanly County | 87 | 158 | $4.4 m |
| Forsyth County | 83 | 148 | $4.8 m |
| Guilford County | 68 | 105 | $2.9 m |
| Davie County | 49 | 100 | $2.0 m |
Households arriving report $3,919 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 Cabarrus 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.
Rowan County
What is the Rowan County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$7.89 bn
- County GDP, 2023$7.58 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.0 percent
- GDP change over five years37.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the North Carolina areas BEA publishes20th of 100
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes531st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$52,618
Output grew 4.0 percent in the latest year and 37.3 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.
Rowan County
Employment by industry in Rowan County
- Covered employment, annual average50,595
- Establishments reporting3,334
- Average annual pay$57,503
- Average weekly wage$1,106
- Manufacturing, employment6,867
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$70,236
- Retail trade, employment6,331
- Retail trade, average annual pay$44,349
- Health care and social assistance, employment5,576
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$51,571
- Accommodation and food services, employment4,474
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$22,333
- Transportation and warehousing, employment3,778
- Construction, employment3,142
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 6,867 | 168 | $70,236 |
| Retail trade | 6,331 | 414 | $44,349 |
| Health care and social assistance | 5,576 | 309 | $51,571 |
| Accommodation and food services | 4,474 | 275 | $22,333 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3,778 | 150 | $67,538 |
| Construction | 3,142 | 450 | $66,506 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 2,520 | 250 | $49,811 |
| Wholesale trade | 2,513 | 192 | $67,818 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 6,867 jobs, 13.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Rowan County
How many businesses are in Rowan County?
- Establishments, all industries2,908
- Employment at those establishments49,366
- Annual payroll$2.89 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents19.4
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.
Rowan County
Building permits in Rowan County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024592
- Declared construction value permitted$222.2 m
- Single family units authorized585
- Multifamily units authorized7
- Multifamily share of units1.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$375,265
- Units authorized per 1,000 households10.1
Single-family homes are 98.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Rowan County
SBA loans in Rowan County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded65
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$55.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$851,306
- Median 7(a) approval$350,000
- 10th percentile approval$47,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,398,000
- Largest single approval$4,109,900
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)703
- Jobs per approval10.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active32
- Distinct industries receiving approvals46
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer32.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms21
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter42
- Franchise loans12
- Franchise share of approvals18.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLessors of Miniwarehouses and Self-Storage Units (4)
- Most active lenderPinnacle Bank (6)
- 504 approvals recorded23
- 504 gross approval dollars$24.4 m
- Average 504 approval$1,060,000
- Median 504 approval$535,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval8.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved8.2
- Most active CDCBusiness Expansion Funding Corporation (14)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$79.7 m
The average approval of $851,306 sits well above the median of $350,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 32.3 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
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.
Rowan County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Rowan County
Do SBA loans in Rowan County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded9
- Paid in full9
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full9
- Status: Cancelled5
- Status: Exempt from disclosure45
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed6
Only 9 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.
Rowan County
SBA lending by place in Rowan County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending12
- Salisbury, approvals39
- Mooresville, approvals5
- Landis, approvals4
- Cleveland, approvals4
- Kannapolis, approvals3
- Mount Ulla, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Salisbury | 39 | $30,121,100 |
| Mooresville | 5 | $12,189,900 |
| Landis | 4 | $2,543,400 |
| Cleveland | 4 | $910,000 |
| Kannapolis | 3 | $877,200 |
| Mount Ulla | 2 | $3,665,000 |
| China Grove | 2 | $1,830,000 |
| Charlotte | 2 | $665,800 |
| 4 other borrower cities | 4 | $2,532,500 |
Salisbury accounts for 39 approvals against 5 in Mooresville. 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.
Rowan County
How large is Rowan County?
- Land area511 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Carolina counties40th of 100
- Width, east to west33.1 mi
- Height, north to south24.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land293
- Establishments per square mile5.69
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.
Rowan County
Flood risk in Rowan County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Rowan County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 370351
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book11
- Of those, participating in the NFIP11
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Rowan 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 Rowan County (community 370351), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Rowan 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 Rowan 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 Rowan County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024149,875
- Households58,899
- Average household size2.54
- Median household income$65,725
- Median age40.4
Common questions
Rowan County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Rowan County, North Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates 153,384 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 149,875, in 58,899 households, ranking 20th of 100 North Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Rowan County's population growing?
The population has grown 4.43 percent since the 2020 census base of 146,875, to 153,384 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,622 births against 1,873 deaths, with net migration of 1,751. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Rowan County?
$65,725. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $238,400, which is 3.6 times income, and median gross rent is $1,013 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Rowan County?
2,908 establishments, employing 49,366 people with an annual payroll of $2.89 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Rowan County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 6,867 jobs, 13.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 50,595 jobs at an average annual pay of $57,503, or $1,106 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Rowan County?
65 7(a) approvals totaling $55.3 m since FY2020, across 32 lenders, with a median approval of $350,000, plus 23 504 approvals worth $24.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Rowan County?
592 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $222.2 m. Multifamily was 1.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Rowan 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 Rowan County come from?
The largest single origin is Cabarrus County, with 1,148 households. Arriving households report an average income of $55,121 against $51,202 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Rowan 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 Rowan 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.
Rowan County
Cities and places in Rowan.
12 Census places lie wholly or partly in Rowan County. All 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kannapolis | city | 57,890 | 3 | 20.3 percent here, 79.7 percent Cabarrus County |
| Salisbury | city | 35,825 | 39 | Wholly in this county |
| China Grove | town | 4,530 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Landis | town | 3,765 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Spencer | town | 3,349 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Enochville | CDP | 3,321 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Granite Quarry | town | 3,043 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rockwell | town | 2,782 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| East Spencer | town | 1,434 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cleveland | town | 1,080 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Faith | town | 917 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Gold Hill | CDP | 914 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 10 of the county's 65 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Rowan County, the largest being Mooresville (5), Mount Ulla (2), Charlotte (2). 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.