North Carolina · GEOID 37159

Rowan County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 149,875 · 64,975 housing units

Median household income

$65,725

State $74,272

Median home value

$238,400

State $299,282

Median gross rent

$1,013

State $1,245

Homeownership rate

72.3%

State 66.6%

Renter cost-burden rate

46.7%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

20.1%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.4%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

4.4%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

9.4%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

3.63

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Rowan County	North Carolina
Population	149,875	10,730,404
Population density (per sq. mi.)	292.95	—
Median household income	$65,725	$74,272
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$79,000	—
Households	58,899	—
Average household size	2.48 people	—
Owner-occupied	72.3%	66.6%
Renter-occupied	27.7%	33.4%
Race	70.0% White · 15.8% 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

Rowan County compared with North Carolina.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

23.3% 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	16.4%	$46,720	$1,168	$142,888
1 earner	32.2%	$56,045	$1,401	$177,599
2 earners	41.1%	$105,157	$2,629	$360,411
3+ earners	10.4%	$125,394	$3,135	$435,739

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

58,899

Average size: 2.48 people

Households with children

14,783

25.1% of households

Per-capita income

$33,667

Poverty rate: 14.9%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

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

Tenure

72.3% owner-occupied vs. state average 66.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 73.1% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 10.0%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

45.1% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,983.00 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: $238,400.

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: $1,013.

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 6,076 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 10.3% · For rent 12.4% · Seasonal 18.1% · Other 51.5%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

30.4% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 69.6% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

1.7%

1,099 units of 64,975 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

4.8%

3,128 units of 64,975 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

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$52,580

100% MHI$65,725

120% MHI$78,870

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Rowan 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	$46,700	$53,400	$66,700
100% AMI	$55,300	$63,200	$79,000
120% AMI	$66,350	$75,850	$94,800

HUD FMR Area: Rowan 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

46.7% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (25.8% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

20.1% 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 Rowan County.

Covered employment

50,595

Across 21 sectors

Establishments

3,333

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$57,502

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 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	8,121	$69,329	$227,047	−$11,353	$1,733
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	6,867	$70,233	$230,412	−$7,988	$1,756
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	6,408	$44,188	$133,463	−$104,937	$1,105
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	4,474	$22,330	$52,100	−$186,300	$558
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	4,064	$66,530	$216,628	−$21,772	$1,663
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	3,983	$45,511	$138,388	−$100,012	$1,138
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	3,142	$66,499	$216,512	−$21,888	$1,662
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	2,715	$53,481	$168,055	−$70,345	$1,337
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	2,527	$49,810	$154,390	−$84,010	$1,245
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	2,513	$67,827	$221,456	−$16,944	$1,696
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	1,324	$96,499	$328,183	+$89,783	$2,412
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	1,075	$79,578	$265,197	+$26,797	$1,989
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	984	$43,510	$130,939	−$107,461	$1,088
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	792	$25,100	$62,411	−$175,989	$628
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	547	$70,956	$233,103	−$5,297	$1,774
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	256	$40,224	$118,708	−$119,692	$1,006
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	246	$54,072	$170,255	−$68,145	$1,352
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	246	$64,779	$210,110	−$28,290	$1,619
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	170	$101,995	$348,640	+$110,240	$2,550
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	138	$51,302	$159,944	−$78,456	$1,283
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	3	$28,120	$73,653	−$164,747	$703

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	4,268	$22,157	$51,456	−$186,944	$554
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	3,983	$45,511	$138,388	−$100,012	$1,138
NAICS 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing NAICS 336	2,724	$74,139	$244,951	+$6,551	$1,853
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	2,599	$67,652	$220,804	−$17,596	$1,691
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	2,522	$108,658	$373,442	+$135,042	$2,716
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	2,209	$49,462	$153,095	−$85,305	$1,237
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	1,954	$61,924	$199,483	−$38,917	$1,548
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	1,930	$50,189	$155,801	−$82,599	$1,255
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	1,924	$50,760	$157,926	−$80,474	$1,269
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	1,826	$72,204	$237,748	−$652	$1,805
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	1,658	$61,305	$197,179	−$41,221	$1,533
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	1,590	$40,140	$118,395	−$120,005	$1,004
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	1,324	$96,499	$328,183	+$89,783	$2,412
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	1,239	$70,932	$233,013	−$5,387	$1,773
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	1,151	$42,305	$126,454	−$111,946	$1,058
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	1,075	$79,578	$265,197	+$26,797	$1,989
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	1,012	$60,386	$193,758	−$44,642	$1,510
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	810	$26,931	$69,227	−$169,173	$673
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	766	$78,845	$262,468	+$24,068	$1,971
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	595	$20,115	$43,855	−$194,545	$503
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	588	$54,823	$173,050	−$65,350	$1,371
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	576	$57,526	$183,112	−$55,288	$1,438
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	533	$48,529	$149,622	−$88,778	$1,213
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	470	$63,731	$206,209	−$32,191	$1,593
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	448	$44,795	$135,723	−$102,677	$1,120
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	444	$85,052	$285,573	+$47,173	$2,126
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	429	$30,102	$81,030	−$157,370	$753
NAICS 326 Plastics and rubber products manufacturing NAICS 326	396	$49,655	$153,813	−$84,587	$1,241
NAICS 335 Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing NAICS 335	361	$66,208	$215,429	−$22,971	$1,655
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	360	$38,014	$110,482	−$127,918	$950
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	357	$60,875	$195,578	−$42,822	$1,522
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	356	$64,698	$209,808	−$28,592	$1,617
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	352	$43,528	$131,006	−$107,394	$1,088
NAICS 322 Paper manufacturing NAICS 322	338	$74,884	$247,724	+$9,324	$1,872
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	317	$52,393	$164,005	−$74,395	$1,310
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	305	$59,888	$191,904	−$46,496	$1,497
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	279	$34,131	$96,028	−$142,372	$853
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	267	$136,966	$478,814	+$240,414	$3,424
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	240	$29,247	$77,848	−$160,552	$731
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	235	$65,709	$213,572	−$24,828	$1,643
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	206	$25,916	$65,449	−$172,951	$648
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	190	$38,874	$113,683	−$124,717	$972
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	186	$61,191	$196,754	−$41,646	$1,530
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	183	$64,029	$207,318	−$31,082	$1,601
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	182	$67,593	$220,585	−$17,815	$1,690
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	175	$53,198	$167,002	−$71,398	$1,330
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	170	$101,995	$348,640	+$110,240	$2,550
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	150	$67,814	$221,407	−$16,993	$1,695
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	144	$52,793	$165,494	−$72,906	$1,320
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	129	$38,285	$111,490	−$126,910	$957
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	123	$33,468	$93,560	−$144,840	$837
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	115	$24,077	$58,603	−$179,797	$602
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	90	$56,338	$178,690	−$59,710	$1,408
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	82	$62,708	$202,401	−$35,999	$1,568
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	81	$29,067	$77,178	−$161,222	$727
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	75	$53,555	$168,330	−$70,070	$1,339
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	72	$66,534	$216,643	−$21,757	$1,663
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	70	$62,155	$200,342	−$38,058	$1,554
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	55	$46,158	$140,796	−$97,604	$1,154
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	44	$39,023	$114,237	−$124,163	$976
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	36	$64,005	$207,229	−$31,171	$1,600
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	36	$64,525	$209,164	−$29,236	$1,613
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	32	$46,823	$143,272	−$95,128	$1,171
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	29	$62,104	$200,153	−$38,247	$1,553
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	3	$28,120	$73,653	−$164,747	$703

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	27,050	(9,230)	(25%)	$14.38	$29,910	$80,316	$748
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	27,350	390	1%	$14.57	$30,310	$81,805	$758
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	3,790	(3,200)	(46%)	$16.00	$33,280	$92,860	$832
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	13,760	170	1%	$16.78	$34,900	$98,890	$873
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	35,150	(3,950)	(10%)	$17.02	$35,410	$100,789	$885
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	19,990	(750)	(4%)	$19.64	$40,850	$121,038	$1,021
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	13,580	(5,250)	(28%)	$19.91	$41,410	$123,123	$1,035
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	16,390	(4,010)	(20%)	$21.63	$44,990	$136,449	$1,125
Tellers SOC 43-3071	1,260	(1,550)	(55%)	$21.95	$45,660	$138,943	$1,142
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	10,840	4,620	74%	$22.19	$46,150	$140,766	$1,154
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	4,700	570	14%	$22.63	$47,070	$144,191	$1,177
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	3,730	1,060	40%	$25.70	$53,450	$167,940	$1,336
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	11,460	710	7%	$26.02	$54,120	$170,433	$1,353
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	18,700	2,570	16%	$27.89	$58,020	$184,951	$1,451
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	3,840	850	28%	$27.95	$58,140	$185,397	$1,454
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	10,770	1,310	14%	—	$58,400	$186,365	$1,460
Electricians SOC 47-2111	5,250	1,340	34%	$28.41	$59,100	$188,971	$1,478
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	1,180	(630)	(35%)	$30.41	$63,240	$204,381	$1,581
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	5,770	(180)	(3%)	$32.71	$68,030	$222,211	$1,701
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	27,010	3,680	16%	$44.83	$93,240	$316,051	$2,331

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: 37159 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.