Community Development Data Tracker

Population estimates represent the annual estimates of the resident population as of July 1 each year following the 2010 Census as calculated by the U.S. Census Bureau's Population Division.

Note: The terms “rural” and “urban” here refer to data for nonmetro and metro areas, a county-level classification defined by the Office of Management and Budget. For these numbers, the USDA's Economic Research Service uses the February 2013 version of nonmetro and metro areas because it reflects conditions at the beginning of the decade. See ERS What is Rural? web page for a discussion of differences between metro-nonmetro categories and the Census Bureau’s rural-urban classification.

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The American Community Survey's Demographic and Housing Estimates provide a more nuanced breakdown of racial demographics with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity removed. In the above graph, we have included "White, not Hispanic or Latino" only because that is the only racial category provided from the source for the bar graph below, "NC Population Under 18 by Race/Ethnicity, 2014." We included it here to show the difference between the percentage of whites in the overall population and in the population under 18, an indicator of the state's shifting demographics. To see the breakdown by other races for this data, click on the source link in the "Explore This Data" button below.

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In the above graph, "White, not Hispanic or Latino" is the only racial category provided in 2010-2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates' Children Characteristics data. We included it here to compare the difference between the percentage of whites in the overall population (in the "NC Population by Race/Ethnicity, 2014" in the preceding graph) and in the population under 18, an indicator of the state's shifting demographics.

Note: EdNC combined the original seven categories in the ACS data to create the four category classification here. We combined "Less than 9th grade" and "9th to 12th grade, no diploma" into the single "Less than a high school graduate" category. We combined the "Some college, no degree" and "Associate's degree" into the "Some college or associate's degree" category. "Bachelor's degree" and "Graduate or professional degree" were combined into the "Bachelor's degree or higher" category.

Percentage of households with income below the federal poverty threshold. Income poverty is a fundamental indicator of financial insecurity and instability. If a household's total income is below the poverty threshold, then they are considered poor.

HOC: Households of Color (e.g., all non-White households)

Percentage of households without sufficient net worth to subsist at the poverty level for three months in the absence of income, 2011. This measure expands the notion of poverty to include how much of a financial cushion a household has to weather financial crises such as a job loss, medical emergency or the need to fix a car.

HOC: Households of Color (e.g., all non-White households)

Percentage of households without sufficient liquid assets to subsist at the poverty level for three months in the absence of income. Liquid asset poor households lack the savings to cover basic expenses for three months if unemployment, a medical emergency or other crisis leads to a loss of stable income. They do not have a basic personal safety net to prepare for emergencies or future needs, such as a child’s college education or homeownership.

HOC: Households of Color (e.g., all non-White households)

Percentage of households that have zero or negative net worth. A household with negative net worth owes more than it owns; its household debt is greater than its financial assets. This measure describes the severity of asset poverty and demonstrates that some households have no financial cushion to help them weather a financial crisis.

HOC: Households of Color (e.g., all non-White households)

The 2010-2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates' Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months data sorts the poverty rate for educational attainment by those 25 years and over. At the time of the measure, 13.4 percent of the state's population age 25 years and over were living in poverty. Of those 857, 862 individuals, the ACS data sorts them by educational attainment status above.

Children under 18 years in households receiving public assistance in the past 12 months including Supplemental Security Income (SSI), cash public assistance income, or Food Stamps/SNAP.

Poverty status in the past 12 months for children in households for whom poverty status is determined.

HOC: Households of Color (e.g., all non-White households)

Affordable Rent: For rent to be considered affordable, the cost of rent and utilities must not exceed 30% of household income.

Fair Market Rent: HUD’s best estimate of what a household seeking a modest rental unit in a short amount of time can expect to pay for rent and utilities in the current market.

Income Levels:

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments are $733 per month.
• Minimum wage in North Carolina is $7.25 per hour.
• 30 percent of the estimated area median income (AMI) is $17,757.
• The estimated median renter income for North Carolina is $29,898 per year.