Town · North Carolina

St. Pauls, North Carolina

St. Pauls, town, in Robeson County, North Carolina. St. Pauls had 2,109 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,045 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,688 (±433). GEOID 3758720.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

2,109

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,045 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,688 ±433

Median household income

$36,800

±$10,924 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388

Median home value

$111,000

±$32,893 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900

Median gross rent

$781

±$42 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228

Where is St. Pauls and what county is it in?

St. Pauls is a town in Robeson County, North Carolina. It covers 1.6 square miles of land, 1,256 residents per square mile in 2020.

St. Pauls is in the Lumberton, NC micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

St. Pauls (marked with a dot) in Robeson County, North Carolina. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in St. Pauls, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 2,109 people lived in St. Pauls on July 1, 2025, up 2.7% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020 Census counted 2,045 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,688 (±433).

  • July 2020→2021 −1 (2,050)
  • 2021→2022 +5 (2,055)
  • 2022→2023 +24 (2,079)
  • 2023→2024 +26 (2,105)
  • 2024→2025 +4 (2,109)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure St. PaulsRobeson CountyNorth Carolina Change since 2015-2019
Total population 2,688 ±433 116,902 10,730,404 +581
Households 926 ±125 43,134 4,282,345 no clear change
Average household size 2.89 ±0.37 2.63 2.44 +0.51
Housing units 1,026 ±130 49,111 4,895,668 no clear change

St. Pauls's population since 2000

From 2,137 in 2000 to 2,109 in 2025: down 1.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for St. Pauls as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 2,137
  • 2005 (estimate) 2,041
  • 2010 Census 2,035
  • 2015 (estimate) 2,391
  • 2020 Census 2,045
  • 2025 (estimate) 2,109

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in St. Pauls?

The median resident of St. Pauls is 35.9 years old; 31.6% are under 18 and 18.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 36.5%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 35.4%. 22.4% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure St. PaulsRobeson CountyNorth Carolina Change since 2015-2019
Median age 35.9 ±7.2 36.4 39.1 no clear change
Under 18 years 31.6% ±6.5 pts 25.8% 21.8% –
65 years and over 18.1% ±4.3 pts 16.0% 17.2% –
Male 48.5% ±4.4 pts 48.0% 48.9% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 36.5% ±9.2 pts 10.9% 11.3% no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic 35.4% ±7.7 pts 23.3% 60.0% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 22.0% ±7.3 pts 23.2% 20.0% no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.1% ±0.3 pts 0.8% 3.3% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 4.2% ±2.5 pts 38.4% 0.8% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.6 pts 0.1% 0.1% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 1.8% ±1.3 pts 3.2% 4.1% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.6 pts 0.2% 0.5% –
Born outside the United States 22.4% ±5.9 pts 5.5% 9.1% +9.7 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 37.1% ±8.3 pts 10.3% 13.5% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 4.8% ±2.4 pts 6.3% 7.4% –
With a disability 16.2% ±4.2 pts 18.4% 13.6% –
No health insurance coverage 26.1% ±6.5 pts 14.2% 9.9% +11.7 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 65.2% ±6.2 pts 80.0% 90.1% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 9.6% ±3.1 pts 14.7% 35.7% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 3.5% ±2.2 pts 5.1% 13.5% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 98.3% ±1.2 pts 93.9% 87.3% –
Moved from another state in the past year 0.9% ±0.9 pts 1.0% 3.0% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in St. Pauls earn?

Half of St. Pauls's 926 households earn less than $36,800 a year (±$10,924), against $41,978 in Robeson County and $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $36,408 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 37.7% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure St. PaulsRobeson CountyNorth Carolina Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $36,800 ±$10,924 $41,978 $72,388 no clear change
Mean household income $60,551 ±$11,700 $62,210 $101,208 –
Per capita income $21,016 ±$4,759 $23,672 $41,385 no clear change
People below the poverty line 37.7% ±8.3 pts 27.2% 13.0% +12.6 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line 46.2% ±15.9 pts 36.6% 17.7% no clear change
Households receiving SNAP 32.7% ±7.3 pts 32.6% 12.8% –
Households with a computer 82.9% ±5.3 pts 90.7% 94.9% –
Households with a broadband subscription 83.3% ±5.4 pts 77.6% 90.1% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in St. Pauls?

Owners occupy 53.6% of St. Pauls's occupied homes and renters 46.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $111,000 by its owner (±$32,893). The median renter pays $781 a month including utilities, and 50.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure St. PaulsRobeson CountyNorth Carolina Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $111,000 ±$32,893 $94,500 $288,900 no clear change
Median gross rent $781 ±$42 $805 $1,228 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 50.3% ±12.8 pts 39.2% 39.6% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,076 ±$142 $1,175 $1,631 –
Owner-occupied homes 53.6% ±6.6 pts 65.8% 66.6% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 46.4% ±6.6 pts 34.2% 33.4% –
Housing units 1,026 ±130 49,111 4,895,668 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 2.0% ±2.3 pts 0.8% 1.3% –
Rental vacancy rate 2.5% ±2.8 pts 4.6% 7.1% –
Single-family detached homes 64.5% ±6.2 pts 50.9% 65.3% –
Mobile homes 17.0% ±5.1 pts 37.5% 11.0% –
Built 2020 or later 0.8% ±1.3 pts 1.7% 3.0% –
Built 2010 to 2019 0.8% ±1.0 pts 8.7% 13.5% –
Built 1939 or earlier 10.1% ±4.3 pts 4.4% 4.9% –
Households with no vehicle 12.1% ±4.3 pts 7.9% 5.3% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How do people in St. Pauls work and get to work?

82.6% of St. Pauls's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 24.0 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure St. PaulsRobeson CountyNorth Carolina Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 44.0% ±5.4 pts 50.9% 62.8% –
Unemployment rate 8.8% ±7.5 pts 6.0% 4.7% –
Drove alone to work 82.6% ±8.1 pts 85.3% 71.5% –
Carpooled 6.0% ±4.3 pts 7.4% 8.5% –
Public transportation 0.0% ±5.4 pts 0.3% 0.7% –
Walked 1.4% ±1.6 pts 1.2% 1.6% –
Worked from home 7.6% ±6.6 pts 4.2% 16.3% –
Mean travel time to work 24.0 min ±3.1 25.3 min 25.1 min no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in St. Pauls?

1 census tract lies mostly in St. Pauls, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in St. Pauls, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in St. Pauls
Tract 9601.02Robeson County4,692 $51,036 $116,70054%
Tract 9601.01Robeson County4,007 $42,188 $80,0002%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in St. Pauls) · Census block assignment files

How does St. Pauls compare with other places in North Carolina?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, St. Pauls is the 7,499th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 254th-most populous of 549 in North Carolina.

St. Pauls ranks 407th of 434 places in North Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

St. Pauls's rank in North Carolina (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate254th549
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)217th331
Residents per square mile117th443
Median household income407th434
Per capita income417th443
Median home value413th438
Median gross rent328th395
Poverty rate17th341
Bachelor's degree or higher404th421
Median age360th442
Owner-occupied share344th443
Travel time to work225th439

St. Pauls's figures with every place in North Carolina (CSV)

Every place in North Carolina, sortable · Compare St. Pauls with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for St. Pauls?

14 of the 57 figures for St. Pauls on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for St. Pauls are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in St. Pauls.