City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Oak Ridge, NC

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

7,660
Residents
$140,583
Median income
$523,500
Median home
$1,330
Median rent (state)

Oak Ridge - the verdict

Nationally, Oak Ridge sits in the 92nd percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

92nd
percentile, household income
86th
percentile, home value
48th
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: Oak Ridge, NC

North Carolina's Oak Ridge is a small town, with 7,660 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Oak Ridge brings in $140,583 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 1.3%. Oak Ridge's housing stock carries a median value of $523,500, and the median resident age is 46.1 years. 50.6% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 61.9% 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: 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 $1,330 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in North Carolina run around $215, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 93.4 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

7,660 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$140,583 /yr

Poverty 1.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Oak Ridge compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 92% higher than other cities
Home value 86% pricier than other cities
Median rent 48% 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

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 Oak Ridge'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.

92ndIncome percentile

92nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Oak Ridge's home value compares nationally

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

$523,500 14th percentile more affordable than 14% 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%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Oak Ridge $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 - Oak Ridge, NC Oak Ridge, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Oak Ridge, 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 Oak Ridge, NC median $140,583/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%
Oak Ridge, 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 Oak Ridge, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 50.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.9%

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

Population
7,660
Median Income
$140,583
Median Home Value
$523,500
Median Age
46.1
Poverty Rate
1.3%
Labor force participation
61.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
50.6%

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 →
7,600 residents7,700 residents7,800 residents7,900 residents8,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 7,637 residents 7,896 residents ▲ +3.4%
Oak Ridge's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
63.0%
Carpool
3.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.7%
Work from Home
28.5%
Other
4.3%

Based on 3,631 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 Oak Ridge sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,330/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
93.4 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Marion
7,594 people
Kill Devil Hills
7,727 people
Etowah
7,765 people
Half Moon
7,780 people
Brevard
7,795 people
Siler City
7,905 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Oak Ridge's 7,660 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Gold River, CA
7,661 people
New Albany, MS
7,661 people
Thousand Palms, CA
7,662 people
Ludington, MI
7,664 people
Seward, NE
7,665 people
Ashland, VA
7,667 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Oak Ridge's $140,583 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Laguna Niguel, CA
$140,605 median income
Brookline, MA
$140,631 median income
Buccaneer Bay, NE
$140,517 median income
Laguna Beach, CA
$140,508 median income
Weston, FL
$140,501 median income
Cooper Landing, AK
$140,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Oak Ridge, 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 Oak Ridge, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 77.3% 11.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.0% White 77.3% Black or African American 3.6% Asian 11.4% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 4.9% Two or more races 2.5% 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 Oak Ridge 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
Oak Ridge (this city) 7,660 $140,583
Marion 7,594 $44,472
Kill Devil Hills 7,727 $85,747
Etowah 7,765 $73,000
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Oak Ridge, NC?

What is the population of Oak Ridge, NC? +

Oak Ridge, NC counts 7,660 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Oak Ridge, NC? +

In Oak Ridge, the typical household earns $140,583 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Oak Ridge? +

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

A typical home in Oak Ridge is worth $523,500, 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 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.