City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Northwest, NC

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

690
Residents
$53,143
Median income
$183,700
Median home
$1,426
Median rent (state)

Northwest - the verdict

Northwest ranks in the 24th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

24th
percentile, household income
38th
percentile, home value
56th
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: Northwest, NC

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 690 residents in Northwest, a small town within North Carolina. Median household income here is $53,143 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 12.0%. Northwest's housing stock carries a median value of $183,700, and the median resident age is 51.9 years. 17.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 53.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 36 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 800% from five years earlier.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: the state registers 94.3 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,426 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts North Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $215 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 95.8 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

690 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$53,143 /yr

Poverty 12.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Northwest compare to other US cities?

Northwest measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 24% higher than other cities
Home value 38% pricier than other cities
Median rent 56% 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 Northwest 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 Northwest toward the top of North Carolina's cities

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Northwest ranks #159 - the 77th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Northwest only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#420 of 700
40th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#159 of 746
77th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#386 of 708
45th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#311 of 746
58th percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#466 of 746
37th 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.

24thIncome percentile

24th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Northwest's home value compares nationally

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

$183,700 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. Northwest $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 - Northwest, NC Northwest, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Northwest, 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 Northwest, NC median $53,143/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%
Northwest, 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 Northwest, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 17.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 53.5%

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

Population
690
Median Income
$53,143
Median Home Value
$183,700
Median Age
51.9
Poverty Rate
12.0%
Labor force participation
53.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
17.8%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
600 residents800 residents1,000 residents1,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 693 residents 1,096 residents ▲ +58.2%
Northwest's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
36
housing units authorized
Single-Family
36
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
52.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 31
2021 61
2022 40
2023 33
2024 36

Permit volume increased 800% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
75.3%
Carpool
9.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
12.3%
Other
2.8%

Based on 324 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 Northwest sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,426/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
95.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Jackson
688 people
South Weldon
688 people
Elk Park
694 people
Sandyfield
683 people
Grantsboro
698 people
North Topsail Beach
699 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Northwest's 690 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Reeltown, AL
690 people
Santa Rosa, AZ
690 people
Caddo Valley, AR
690 people
Crofton, KY
690 people
Seneca Gardens, KY
690 people
Bovey, MN
690 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Northwest's $53,143 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Hawthorne, FL
$53,143 median income
Sargent, TX
$53,143 median income
Stendal, IN
$53,144 median income
Salisbury, MO
$53,144 median income
Malin, OR
$53,144 median income
Galliano, LA
$53,146 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Northwest, 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 Northwest, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 29.7% 65.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.0% White 29.7% Black or African American 65.4% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 4.5% 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 Northwest 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
Northwest (this city) 690 $53,143
Jackson 688 $48,292
South Weldon 688 $19,250
Elk Park 694 $44,350
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Northwest, NC?

What is the population of Northwest, NC? +

690 people live in Northwest, NC according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Northwest, the typical household earns $53,143 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Northwest? +

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

Homes in Northwest carry a median value of $183,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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