North Carolina · GEOID 37073

Gates County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 10,376 · 4,827 housing units

Median household income

$66,333

State $74,272

Median home value

$170,800

State $299,282

Median gross rent

$1,143

State $1,245

Homeownership rate

80.9%

State 66.6%

Renter cost-burden rate

25.7%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

22.0%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.9%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

2.8%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

13.2%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.57

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Gates County	North Carolina
Population	10,376	10,730,404
Population density (per sq. mi.)	30.46	—
Median household income	$66,333	$74,272
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$83,900	—
Households	4,192	—
Average household size	2.46 people	—
Owner-occupied	80.9%	66.6%
Renter-occupied	19.1%	33.4%
Race	63.3% White · 31.0% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Gates County compared with North Carolina.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

10.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 35.7%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	18.2%	$44,295	$1,107	$133,862
1 earner	40.1%	$69,342	$1,734	$227,095
2 earners	34.7%	$97,224	$2,431	$330,881
3+ earners	7.0%	$144,444	$3,611	$506,650

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

4,192

Average size: 2.46 people

Households with children

814

19.4% of households

Per-capita income

$31,687

Poverty rate: 8.1%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

80.9% owner-occupied vs. state average 66.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 61.7% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 0.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

35.3% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,991.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $170,800.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,143.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 635 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 10.2% · For rent 3.8% · Seasonal 13.9% · Other 52.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

33.5% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 66.5% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

1.8%

88 units of 4,827 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

6.9%

334 units of 4,827 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$53,066

100% MHI$66,333

120% MHI$79,600

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Gates County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$49,650	$56,750	$70,900
100% AMI	$58,730	$67,120	$83,900
120% AMI	$70,500	$80,550	$100,700

HUD FMR Area: Gates County, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

25.7% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (19.3% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

22.0% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Gates County.

Covered employment

948

Across 9 sectors

Establishments

129

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$43,786

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	310	$44,163	$133,370	−$37,430	$1,104
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	186	$35,869	$102,497	−$68,303	$897
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	164	$41,640	$123,979	−$46,821	$1,041
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	160	$47,085	$144,247	−$26,553	$1,177
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	57	$37,725	$109,406	−$61,394	$943
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	37	$40,490	$119,698	−$51,102	$1,012
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	22	$120,675	$418,174	+$247,374	$3,017
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	9	$46,498	$142,062	−$28,738	$1,162
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	3	$20,996	$47,135	−$123,665	$525

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	310	$44,163	$133,370	−$37,430	$1,104
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	120	$37,666	$109,186	−$61,614	$942
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	60	$45,280	$137,528	−$33,272	$1,132
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	50	$14,419	$22,653	−$148,147	$360
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	42	$38,596	$112,648	−$58,152	$965
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	40	$46,256	$141,161	−$29,639	$1,156
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	38	$25,201	$62,787	−$108,013	$630
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	37	$36,140	$103,506	−$67,294	$904
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	37	$40,490	$119,698	−$51,102	$1,012
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	32	$51,128	$159,296	−$11,504	$1,278
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	22	$120,675	$418,174	+$247,374	$3,017
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	20	$54,909	$173,370	+$2,570	$1,373
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	17	$33,602	$94,059	−$76,741	$840
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	15	$46,245	$141,120	−$29,680	$1,156
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	14	$48,282	$148,702	−$22,098	$1,207
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	13	$34,792	$98,488	−$72,312	$870
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	9	$46,498	$142,062	−$28,738	$1,162
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	9	$59,421	$190,166	+$19,366	$1,486
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	9	$36,471	$104,738	−$66,062	$912
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	6	$32,555	$90,161	−$80,639	$814
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	3	$20,996	$47,135	−$123,665	$525

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	22,520	(1,870)	(8%)	$14.65	$30,460	$82,363	$762
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	16,840	(5,570)	(25%)	$14.72	$30,620	$82,959	$766
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	2,830	840	42%	$15.25	$31,720	$87,053	$793
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	20,890	(7,690)	(27%)	$16.44	$34,180	$96,210	$855
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	11,840	(30)	(0%)	$16.73	$34,790	$98,481	$870
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	8,110	(1,640)	(17%)	$19.43	$40,420	$119,437	$1,011
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	5,660	1,560	38%	$19.65	$40,870	$121,113	$1,022
Tellers SOC 43-3071	1,320	(660)	(33%)	$20.60	$42,850	$128,483	$1,071
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	13,100	(460)	(3%)	$21.40	$44,510	$134,662	$1,113
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	12,490	(4,050)	(24%)	$21.67	$45,080	$136,784	$1,127
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	7,100	430	6%	$24.45	$50,850	$158,261	$1,271
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	7,460	1,300	21%	$25.80	$53,660	$168,721	$1,342
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	4,020	30	1%	$26.13	$54,350	$171,290	$1,359
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	2,880	—	—	$27.65	$57,510	$183,052	$1,438
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	5,100	380	8%	$28.50	$59,280	$189,641	$1,482
Electricians SOC 47-2111	5,740	830	17%	$30.30	$63,030	$203,600	$1,576
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	400	(780)	(66%)	$31.01	$64,500	$209,071	$1,613
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	4,320	(110)	(2%)	$32.34	$67,270	$219,382	$1,682
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	7,130	50	1%	—	$72,010	$237,026	$1,800
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	16,870	3,170	23%	$42.96	$89,350	$301,572	$2,234

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 37073 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.