City · North Carolina
Clinton, North Carolina
Clinton, city, in Sampson County, North Carolina. Clinton had 8,466 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 8,383 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 8,304 (±29). GEOID 3713240.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
8,466
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 8,383 · ACS 2020-2024: 8,304 ±29
Median household income
$44,953
±$4,149 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$212,000
±$15,520 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$759
±$56 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
Where is Clinton and what county is it in?
Clinton is a city in Sampson County, North Carolina. It covers 7.7 square miles of land, 1,090 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Clinton, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 8,466 people lived in Clinton on July 1, 2025, up 1.1% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020 Census counted 8,383 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 8,304 (±29).
| Measure | Clinton | Sampson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,304 ±29 | 59,470 | −200 |
| Households | 2,987 ±223 | 21,607 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.49 ±0.19 | 2.68 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,471 ±245 | 25,852 | no clear change |
Clinton's population since 2000
From 8,600 in 2000 to 8,466 in 2025: down 1.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Clinton as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Clinton?
The median resident of Clinton is 39.9 years old; 22.9% are under 18 and 24.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 38.5%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 34.6%. 12.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Clinton | Sampson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 ±2.5 | 39.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.9% ±3.1 pts | 24.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.3% ±2.8 pts | 18.1% | – |
| Male | 49.2% ±2.7 pts | 49.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 21.9% ±5.4 pts | 22.0% | +9.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 34.6% ±3.7 pts | 49.2% | −7.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 38.5% ±4.7 pts | 24.0% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.6% ±1.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.4 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.6% ±1.3 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 12.4% ±3.4 pts | 10.6% | +4.8 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 19.5% ±4.8 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.3% ±2.1 pts | 6.9% | – |
| With a disability | 15.7% ±2.5 pts | 15.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 13.8% ±3.8 pts | 15.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 82.5% ±3.4 pts | 84.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 23.8% ±3.1 pts | 16.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.2% ±1.9 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.9% ±2.0 pts | 95.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.9% ±0.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Clinton earn?
Half of Clinton's 2,987 households earn less than $44,953 a year (±$4,149), against $52,432 in Sampson County and $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $39,824 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 23.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Clinton | Sampson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $44,953 ±$4,149 | $52,432 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $63,802 ±$4,408 | $70,124 | – |
| Per capita income | $25,464 ±$1,953 | $27,307 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 23.6% ±5.1 pts | 21.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 37.2% ±9.5 pts | 34.0% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 32.1% ±4.0 pts | 20.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 87.7% ±3.3 pts | 89.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 79.3% ±3.7 pts | 84.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Clinton?
Owners occupy 48.6% of Clinton's occupied homes and renters 51.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $212,000 by its owner (±$15,520). The median renter pays $759 a month including utilities, and 28.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Clinton | Sampson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $212,000 ±$15,520 | $150,700 | +$60,994 |
| Median gross rent | $759 ±$56 | $834 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 28.1% ±5.8 pts | 40.6% | −16.5 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,313 ±$143 | $1,241 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 48.6% ±4.5 pts | 73.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 51.4% ±4.5 pts | 26.2% | – |
| Housing units | 3,471 ±245 | 25,852 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5% ±0.7 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.9% ±3.2 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 67.5% ±3.2 pts | 61.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.0% ±1.0 pts | 32.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.4% ±0.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.0% ±1.6 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.9% ±1.2 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 12.7% ±3.6 pts | 4.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Clinton work and get to work?
80.9% of Clinton's workers drive alone and 8.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.9%.
| Measure | Clinton | Sampson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 48.7% ±3.5 pts | 56.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% ±2.3 pts | 5.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 80.9% ±5.5 pts | 82.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.9% ±3.5 pts | 10.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.8% ±1.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Walked | 1.3% ±1.1 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.0% ±4.1 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.5 min ±2.4 | 26.5 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Clinton?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Clinton, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $47,893 (Tract 9706) to $58,028 (Tract 9707.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9706Sampson County | 4,502 | $47,893 |
| Tract 9707.02Sampson County | 5,560 | $62,981 |
| Tract 9707.01Sampson County | 1,849 | $58,028 |
| Tract 9708.01Sampson County | 1,910 | $49,732 |
| Tract 9708.02Sampson County | 4,932 | $40,958 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Clinton) · Census block assignment files
How does Clinton compare with other places in North Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Clinton is the 3,606th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 105th-most populous of 549 in North Carolina.
Clinton ranks 354th of 434 places in North Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 105th | 549 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 259th | 331 |
| Residents per square mile | 159th | 443 |
| Median household income | 354th | 434 |
| Per capita income | 368th | 443 |
| Median home value | 270th | 438 |
| Median gross rent | 341st | 395 |
| Poverty rate | 74th | 341 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 255th | 421 |
| Median age | 245th | 442 |
| Owner-occupied share | 387th | 443 |
| Work from home | 228th | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 369th | 439 |
Clinton's figures with every place in North Carolina (CSV)
Every place in North Carolina, sortable · Compare Clinton with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Clinton?
10 of the 57 figures for Clinton on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Clinton are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Clinton.