City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Dobson, NC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Dobson - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,521
Residents
$44,531
Median income
$168,300
Median home
$925
Median rent (state)

Dobson - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Dobson lands in the 12th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

12th
percentile, household income
33rd
percentile, home value
7th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Dobson, NC

North Carolina's Dobson is a small town, with 1,521 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Dobson brings in $44,531 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 3.4%. Home values in Dobson run a median of $168,300, and the median resident age is 37.9 years. Educational attainment runs 19.0% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 38.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 7 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts North Carolina at 94.3 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $925 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in North Carolina run around $215, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 18.3 minutes, with 69.0% driving alone and 0.0% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 73.6 out of 100 (High).

Population

1,521 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$44,531 /yr

Poverty 3.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Dobson compare to other US cities?

Where Dobson sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 12% higher than other cities
Home value 33% pricier than other cities
Median rent 7% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Dobson against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Carolina-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Dobson near the bottom of North Carolina's cities

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Dobson ranks #552 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Dobson only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#525 of 700
25th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#552 of 746
0th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#431 of 708
39th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#566 of 746
24th percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#435 of 746
42nd percentile in North Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within North Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

12thIncome percentile

12th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Dobson's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$168,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 67% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Dobson $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Dobson, NC Dobson, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Dobson, NC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Dobson, NC median $44,531/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Dobson, NC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Dobson, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 38.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,521
Median Income
$44,531
Median Home Value
$168,300
Median Age
37.9
Poverty Rate
3.4%
Labor force participation
38.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.0%

Schools

Total Schools
7
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,460 residents1,465 residents1,470 residents1,475 residents1,480 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,464 residents 1,474 residents ▲ +0.7%
Dobson's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.3 minutes
Drive Alone
69.0%
Carpool
27.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
0.0%
Other
3.2%

Based on 539 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Dobson sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$925/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
73.6 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Clyde
1,522 people
Weldon
1,522 people
Bethel
1,528 people
Cove Creek
1,533 people
Biltmore Forest
1,536 people
Boonville
1,502 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Dobson's 1,521 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Los Ranchos, CA
1,521 people
Stockton, KS
1,521 people
Edgard, LA
1,521 people
Mechanicsville, MD
1,521 people
West Park, NJ
1,521 people
Rutledge, TN
1,521 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Dobson's $44,531 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Molena, GA
$44,531 median income
Whitney Point, NY
$44,526 median income
Anson, TX
$44,538 median income
Henryetta, OK
$44,541 median income
Calhoun, TN
$44,519 median income
Freeborn, MN
$44,545 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Dobson, NC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Dobson, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 70.5% 13.6% 7.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13.2% White 70.5% Black or African American 13.6% Asian 4.5% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.8% Two or more races 7.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Dobson compares to nearby North Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Dobson (this city) 1,521 $44,531
Clyde 1,522 $59,315
Weldon 1,522 $38,725
Bethel 1,528 $51,489
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Dobson, NC?

What is the population of Dobson, NC? +

The population of Dobson, NC stands at 1,521 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Dobson, NC? +

In Dobson, the typical household earns $44,531 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Dobson? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Dobson; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Dobson, NC? +

The median home value in Dobson is $168,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.