City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Hot Springs, NC

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

494
Residents
$39,167
Median income
$184,900
Median home
$1,567
Median rent (state)

Hot Springs - the verdict

Hot Springs ranks in the 7th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

7th
percentile, household income
38th
percentile, home value
62nd
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: Hot Springs, NC

North Carolina's Hot Springs is a small town, with 494 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $39,167 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 20.2%. Hot Springs's housing stock carries a median value of $184,900, and the median resident age is 46.4 years. About 25.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 55.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA puts Hot Springs's yearly average temperature at 58.0°F with 46.7 inches of precipitation per year and 6.1 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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,567 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts North Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $215 (state average). Commute times here average 23.0 minutes, with 80.1% driving alone and 8.9% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 27.4 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

494 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$39,167 /yr

Poverty 20.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Hot Springs compare to other US cities?

Here's how Hot Springs stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 7% higher than other cities
Home value 38% pricier than other cities
Median rent 62% 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 Hot Springs 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 places Hot Springs toward the top of North Carolina's cities

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Hot Springs ranks #142 - the 81st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Hot Springs only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#591 of 700
15th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#114 of 746
80th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#381 of 708
46th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#142 of 746
81st percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#297 of 746
60th 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.

7thIncome percentile

7th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Hot Springs's home value compares nationally

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

$184,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 62% 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%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Hot Springs $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 - Hot Springs, NC Hot Springs, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Hot Springs, 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 Hot Springs, NC median $39,167/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%
Hot Springs, 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 Hot Springs, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 25.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 20.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.8%

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

Population
494
Median Income
$39,167
Median Home Value
$184,900
Median Age
46.4
Poverty Rate
20.2%
Labor force participation
55.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
25.3%

Climate

Avg Temperature
58.0°F
Annual Precipitation
46.7"
Annual Snowfall
6.1"

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
510 residents520 residents530 residents540 residents550 residents560 residents 202020212022202320242025 522 residents 548 residents ▲ +5.0%
Hot Springs's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
23.0 minutes
Drive Alone
80.1%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
11.0%
Work from Home
8.9%

Based on 236 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 Hot Springs sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,567/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
27.4 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Kingstown
499 people
Atkinson
487 people
Ruffin
501 people
Webster
501 people
Caswell Beach
486 people
Salemburg
486 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Hot Springs's 494 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Arivaca, AZ
494 people
El Paso, AR
494 people
Henderson, AR
494 people
Rose Bud, AR
494 people
Between, GA
494 people
Uvalda, GA
494 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Hot Springs's $39,167 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Mount Vernon, AR
$39,167 median income
Faceville, GA
$39,167 median income
Orient, IL
$39,167 median income
Alder, MT
$39,167 median income
Scio, OH
$39,167 median income
Tonkawa Tribal Housing, OK
$39,167 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Hot Springs, 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 Hot Springs, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 97.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 97.4% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 2.6% 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 Hot Springs 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
Hot Springs (this city) 494 $39,167
Kingstown 499 $31,625
Atkinson 487 $60,000
Ruffin 501 N/A
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Hot Springs, NC?

What is the population of Hot Springs, NC? +

Hot Springs, NC counts 494 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Hot Springs, NC? +

In Hot Springs, the typical household earns $39,167 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Hot Springs? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Hot Springs; 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 Hot Springs, NC? +

The median home value in Hot Springs is $184,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Hot Springs? +

Climate normals put Hot Springs's yearly average temperature at 58.0°F, 46.7 inches of precipitation, and 6.1 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, 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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.