Town · North Carolina
Cornelius, North Carolina
Cornelius, town, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Cornelius had 35,094 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 11.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 31,412 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 32,783 (±60). GEOID 3714700.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
35,094
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 31,412 · ACS 2020-2024: 32,783 ±60
Median household income
$113,767
±$8,905 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$559,400
±$43,464 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$1,722
±$56 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
Where is Cornelius and what county is it in?
Cornelius is a town in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. It covers 12.7 square miles of land, 2,475 residents per square mile in 2020.
Cornelius is in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 11 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Cornelius, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 35,094 people lived in Cornelius on July 1, 2025, up 11.7% since 2020, faster than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020 Census counted 31,412 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 32,783 (±60).
| Measure | Cornelius | Mecklenburg County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 32,783 ±60 | 1,154,681 | +3,527 |
| Households | 13,884 ±426 | 466,527 | +1,577 |
| Average household size | 2.36 ±0.07 | 2.44 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 14,956 ±476 | 503,071 | +1,532 |
Cornelius's population since 2000
From 11,969 in 2000 to 35,094 in 2025: up 193.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Cornelius 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 Cornelius?
The median resident of Cornelius is 44.0 years old; 21.8% are under 18 and 20.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 82.0%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 5.6%. 8.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Cornelius | Mecklenburg County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 ±1.6 | 35.5 | +2.7 |
| Under 18 years | 21.8% ±1.6 pts | 22.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.0% ±2.0 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Male | 47.4% ±1.8 pts | 48.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.4% ±1.5 pts | 16.0% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 82.0% ±2.9 pts | 43.2% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.5% ±1.9 pts | 29.7% | −5.0 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.1% ±1.2 pts | 6.3% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.6% ±1.7 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.8% ±1.9 pts | 17.3% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 9.0% ±1.7 pts | 22.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.1% ±1.0 pts | 5.0% | – |
| With a disability | 6.9% ±1.1 pts | 8.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.8% ±1.3 pts | 11.5% | −2.9 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 97.5% ±1.3 pts | 90.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 62.2% ±2.9 pts | 49.2% | +8.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 22.1% ±2.2 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.5% ±2.4 pts | 84.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.8% ±1.1 pts | 3.9% | – |
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 Cornelius earn?
Half of Cornelius's 13,884 households earn less than $113,767 a year (±$8,905), against $87,005 in Mecklenburg County and $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $111,429 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 5.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Cornelius | Mecklenburg County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $113,767 ±$8,905 | $87,005 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $180,188 ±$11,319 | $128,782 | – |
| Per capita income | $77,539 ±$5,421 | $53,295 | +$10,005 |
| People below the poverty line | 5.4% ±1.6 pts | 10.4% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 5.5% ±4.3 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 2.6% ±1.1 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.1% ±1.0 pts | 97.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 96.9% ±1.2 pts | 94.1% | – |
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 Cornelius?
Owners occupy 69.5% of Cornelius's occupied homes and renters 30.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $559,400 by its owner (±$43,464). The median renter pays $1,722 a month including utilities, and 39.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Cornelius | Mecklenburg County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $559,400 ±$43,464 | $406,800 | +$162,624 |
| Median gross rent | $1,722 ±$56 | $1,627 | +$222 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.6% ±6.9 pts | 40.1% | +16.2 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,282 ±$131 | $1,893 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 69.5% ±2.7 pts | 55.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 30.5% ±2.7 pts | 44.9% | – |
| Housing units | 14,956 ±476 | 503,071 | +1,532 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.0% ±2.4 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 60.5% ±3.0 pts | 54.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.8% ±0.6 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.3% ±0.9 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 20.8% ±2.7 pts | 19.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.9% ±0.6 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.9% ±1.2 pts | 5.8% | – |
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 Cornelius work and get to work?
63.8% of Cornelius's workers drive alone and 28.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.4%.
| Measure | Cornelius | Mecklenburg County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.5% ±2.1 pts | 72.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.4% ±1.0 pts | 4.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 63.8% ±3.2 pts | 58.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.9% ±1.4 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.9% ±0.5 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Walked | 1.1% ±0.6 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 28.2% ±2.9 pts | 28.5% | +16.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.4 min ±1.7 | 25.1 min | −3.9 min |
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 Cornelius?
9 census tracts lie mostly in Cornelius, and 5 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $72,784 (Tract 64.08) to $191,413 (Tract 62.19).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 62.08Mecklenburg County | 3,836 | $90,813 |
| Tract 64.10Mecklenburg County | 3,603 | $116,019 |
| Tract 62.17Mecklenburg County | 3,499 | $153,289 |
| Tract 64.11Mecklenburg County | 3,012 | $82,934 |
| Tract 62.18Mecklenburg County | 2,876 | $171,250 |
| Tract 64.09Mecklenburg County | 3,746 | $138,264 |
| Tract 62.19Mecklenburg County | 3,177 | $191,413 |
| Tract 62.09Mecklenburg County | 5,097 | $80,075 |
| Tract 64.07Mecklenburg County | 3,740 | $106,953 |
| Tract 64.08Mecklenburg County | 2,599 | $72,784 |
| Tract 62.20Mecklenburg County | 2,858 | $111,985 |
| Tract 62.16Mecklenburg County | 1,861 | $180,128 |
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 Cornelius) · Census block assignment files
How does Cornelius compare with other places in North Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Cornelius is the 1,182nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 32nd-most populous of 549 in North Carolina.
Cornelius ranks 37th 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 | 32nd | 549 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 51st | 331 |
| Residents per square mile | 14th | 443 |
| Median household income | 37th | 434 |
| Per capita income | 11th | 443 |
| Median home value | 25th | 438 |
| Median gross rent | 33rd | 395 |
| Poverty rate | 310th | 341 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28th | 421 |
| Median age | 143rd | 442 |
| Owner-occupied share | 209th | 443 |
| Work from home | 29th | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 176th | 439 |
Cornelius's figures with every place in North Carolina (CSV)
Every place in North Carolina, sortable · Compare Cornelius 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 Cornelius?
7 of the 57 figures for Cornelius 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 Cornelius 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 Cornelius.