City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Goldsboro, NC

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

33,448
Residents
$47,005
Median income
$173,700
Median home
$1,244
Median rent (state)

Goldsboro - the verdict

Goldsboro ranks in the 15th percentile for household income and the 1st percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

15th
percentile, household income
35th
percentile, home value
40th
percentile, median rent
1st
percentile, safety
📝 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: Goldsboro, NC

33,448 people live in Goldsboro, North Carolina - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Goldsboro brings in $47,005 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 15.6%. Goldsboro's housing stock carries a median value of $173,700, and the median resident age is 36.7 years. Educational attainment runs 21.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 46.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 118 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 188% from five years earlier. Goldsboro's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 6939.9 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Goldsboro's yearly average temperature at 63.3°F with 52.3 inches of precipitation per year and 2.0 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, North Carolina scores 94.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,244 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts North Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $215 (state average). Workers in Goldsboro report an average commute of 16.8 minutes, with 78.6% driving alone and 4.1% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 90.4 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

33,448 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$47,005 /yr

Poverty 15.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Goldsboro compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 15% higher than other cities
Home value 35% pricier than other cities
Median rent 40% pricier than other cities
Safety 1% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at North Carolina, Goldsboro ranks #187 of 195 North Carolina cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Goldsboro 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

Poverty Rate sits close to the middle of North Carolina's city distribution

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Goldsboro ranks #223 - the 70th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Goldsboro only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#507 of 700
28th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#241 of 746
66th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#415 of 708
41st percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#223 of 746
70th percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#380 of 746
49th 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.

15thIncome percentile
1stSafety percentile

15th percentile nationally for median household income · 1st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Goldsboro's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Goldsboro's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 26 Avg. percentile National median
Goldsboro's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Goldsboro's home value compares nationally

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

$173,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 65% 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. Goldsboro $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 - Goldsboro, NC Goldsboro, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Goldsboro, 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 Goldsboro, NC median $47,005/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%
Goldsboro, 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 Goldsboro, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 46.0%

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

Population
33,448
Median Income
$47,005
Median Home Value
$173,700
Median Age
36.7
Poverty Rate
15.6%
Labor force participation
46.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
6939.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
1076.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
5863.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
63.3°F
Annual Precipitation
52.3"
Annual Snowfall
2.0"

Schools

Total Schools
23
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
34,000 residents34,500 residents35,000 residents35,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 34,452 residents 35,012 residents ▲ +1.6%
Goldsboro's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
118
housing units authorized
Single-Family
118
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 41
2020 68
2021 68
2022 161
2023 152
2024 118

Permit volume increased 188% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
16.8 minutes
Drive Alone
78.6%
Carpool
13.2%
Public Transit
1.3%
Walk
1.3%
Work from Home
4.1%
Other
1.5%

Based on 14,161 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 Goldsboro sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,244/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
90.4 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Garner
32,543 people
Cornelius
32,009 people
New Bern
31,563 people
Monroe
35,596 people
Salisbury
35,730 people
Sanford
30,833 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Goldsboro's 33,448 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Ken Caryl, CO
33,407 people
Petersburg, VA
33,365 people
Baldwin, NY
33,595 people
Harker Heights, TX
33,595 people
Huntington Station, NY
33,283 people
Gadsden, AL
33,617 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Goldsboro's $47,005 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Camp Wood, TX
$47,008 median income
Hooper Bay, AK
$47,000 median income
Andrews, IN
$47,000 median income
Merrill, MI
$47,000 median income
Hoffman, MN
$47,000 median income
Porter, OK
$47,000 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Goldsboro, 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 Goldsboro, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 36.2% 53.3% 7.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.5% White 36.2% Black or African American 53.3% Asian 1.8% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 1.2% Two or more races 7.1% 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 Goldsboro 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
Goldsboro (this city) 33,448 $47,005
Garner 32,543 $77,496
Cornelius 32,009 $114,688
New Bern 31,563 $56,893
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Goldsboro, NC?

What is the population of Goldsboro, NC? +

Goldsboro, NC has a population of 33,448 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Goldsboro is $47,005 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Goldsboro? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Goldsboro; 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.

Is Goldsboro, NC safe? +

Goldsboro has a total crime rate of 6939.9 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

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

A typical home in Goldsboro is worth $173,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Goldsboro? +

Climate normals put Goldsboro's yearly average temperature at 63.3°F, 52.3 inches of precipitation, and 2.0 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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.