City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Lenoir, NC

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

18,282
Residents
$48,889
Median income
$165,200
Median home
$1,095
Median rent (state)

Lenoir - the verdict

Nationally, Lenoir sits in the 18th percentile for household income and the 11th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

18th
percentile, household income
32nd
percentile, home value
28th
percentile, median rent
11th
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: Lenoir, NC

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 18,282 residents in Lenoir, a small town within North Carolina. Median household income here is $48,889 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 8.4%. Typical homes in Lenoir are valued around $165,200, and the median resident age is 43.5 years. Educational attainment runs 20.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 51.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Lenoir's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 3477.8 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 57.9°F with 49.7 inches of precipitation per year and 4.1 inches of snowfall.

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 $1,095 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in North Carolina run around $215, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 67.4 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

18,282 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$48,889 /yr

Poverty 8.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Lenoir compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 18% higher than other cities
Home value 32% pricier than other cities
Median rent 28% pricier than other cities
Safety 11% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just North Carolina and the picture shifts: Lenoir ranks #137 of 195 North Carolina cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Lenoir's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in North Carolina, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

18thIncome percentile
11thSafety percentile

18th percentile nationally for median household income · 11th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Lenoir's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Lenoir'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 33 Avg. percentile National median
Lenoir'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 Lenoir's home value compares nationally

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

$165,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 68% 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. Lenoir $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 - Lenoir, NC Lenoir, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lenoir, 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 Lenoir, NC median $48,889/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%
Lenoir, 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 Lenoir, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.7%

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

Population
18,282
Median Income
$48,889
Median Home Value
$165,200
Median Age
43.5
Poverty Rate
8.4%
Labor force participation
51.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3477.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
258.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3219.6
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
57.9°F
Annual Precipitation
49.7"
Annual Snowfall
4.1"

Schools

Total Schools
13
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
18,200 residents18,250 residents18,300 residents18,350 residents18,400 residents 202020212022202320242025 18,353 residents 18,372 residents ▲ +0.1%
Lenoir's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.7%
Carpool
11.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
6.7%
Other
1.5%

Based on 7,476 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 Lenoir sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,095/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
67.4 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Pinehurst
17,992 people
Mount Holly
17,928 people
Elizabeth City
18,740 people
Hope Mills
17,823 people
Mebane
18,899 people
Morganton
17,541 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lenoir's 18,282 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

East St. Louis, IL
18,278 people
Lake Ronkonkoma, NY
18,289 people
Syosset, NY
18,274 people
Colonia, NJ
18,294 people
Lake Shore, MD
18,263 people
Niles, OH
18,301 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lenoir's $48,889 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Golden, MS
$48,889 median income
Hall, NY
$48,889 median income
Sebring, OH
$48,887 median income
Del City, OK
$48,895 median income
Violet, LA
$48,897 median income
Gildford, MT
$48,897 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lenoir, 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 Lenoir, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 71.8% 12.6% 9.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13.6% White 71.8% Black or African American 12.6% Asian 1.0% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 9.3% Two or more races 5.1% 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 Lenoir 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
Lenoir (this city) 18,282 $48,889
Pinehurst 17,992 $104,955
Mount Holly 17,928 $75,928
Elizabeth City 18,740 $50,947
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lenoir, NC?

What is the population of Lenoir, NC? +

18,282 people live in Lenoir, NC according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Lenoir, the typical household earns $48,889 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lenoir? +

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

Lenoir has a total crime rate of 3477.8 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 Lenoir, NC? +

A typical home in Lenoir is worth $165,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Lenoir? +

Climate normals put Lenoir's yearly average temperature at 57.9°F, 49.7 inches of precipitation, and 4.1 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 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 Editorial

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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.