City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Mars Hill, NC

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

2,738
Residents
$77,826
Median income
$295,700
Median home
$1,567
Median rent (state)

Mars Hill - the verdict

Mars Hill ranks in the 59th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

59th
percentile, household income
64th
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: Mars Hill, NC

2,738 people live in Mars Hill, North Carolina - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Mars Hill households earn a median of $77,826 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.2%. Typical homes in Mars Hill are valued around $295,700, and the median resident age is 30.3 years. Educational attainment runs 50.1% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 51.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 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). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,567 per month. 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 27.4 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

2,738 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$77,826 /yr

Poverty 2.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Mars Hill compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 59% higher than other cities
Home value 64% 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 Mars Hill 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

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Mars Hill toward the top of North Carolina's cities

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Mars Hill ranks #90 - the 88th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Mars Hill only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#173 of 700
75th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#114 of 746
80th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#163 of 708
77th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#610 of 746
18th percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#90 of 746
88th 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.

59thIncome percentile

59th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Mars Hill's home value compares nationally

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

$295,700 36th percentile more affordable than 36% 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%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Mars Hill $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 - Mars Hill, NC Mars Hill, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Mars Hill, 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 Mars Hill, NC median $77,826/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%
Mars Hill, 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 Mars Hill, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 50.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.8%

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

Population
2,738
Median Income
$77,826
Median Home Value
$295,700
Median Age
30.3
Poverty Rate
2.2%
Labor force participation
51.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
50.1%

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 →
2,000 residents2,100 residents2,200 residents2,300 residents2,400 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,038 residents 2,280 residents ▲ +11.9%
Mars Hill's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
68.2%
Carpool
3.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
11.7%
Work from Home
16.5%

Based on 1,121 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 Mars Hill 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

Warsaw
2,728 people
Emma
2,757 people
Polkton
2,759 people
Brogden
2,712 people
Edneyville
2,698 people
Cajah's Mountain
2,696 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Mars Hill's 2,738 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hamilton, IL
2,738 people
Pine Lawn, MO
2,738 people
Campo, CA
2,739 people
Wareham Center, MA
2,737 people
Gillette, NJ
2,739 people
Lake Heritage, PA
2,737 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Mars Hill's $77,826 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Chapel Hill, TN
$77,826 median income
Sacaton Flats, AZ
$77,833 median income
Livonia Center, NY
$77,833 median income
Kibler, AR
$77,813 median income
Primghar, IA
$77,813 median income
Choctaw, LA
$77,813 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Mars Hill, 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 Mars Hill, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.0% 6.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.1% White 87.0% Black or African American 6.2% Asian 0.7% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.7% Some other race 1.4% Two or more races 3.5% 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 Mars Hill 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
Mars Hill (this city) 2,738 $77,826
Warsaw 2,728 $46,944
Emma 2,757 $40,964
Polkton 2,759 $45,625
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Mars Hill, NC?

What is the population of Mars Hill, NC? +

Mars Hill, NC has a population of 2,738 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Mars Hill, NC? +

Mars Hill households earn a median of $77,826 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Mars Hill? +

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

Homes in Mars Hill carry a median value of $295,700, 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.