Town · North Carolina
Wadesboro, North Carolina
Wadesboro, town, in Anson County, North Carolina. Wadesboro had 5,035 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,008 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 4,972 (±25). GEOID 3770380.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,035
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,008 · ACS 2020-2024: 4,972 ±25
Median household income
$42,667
±$16,242 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$153,200
±$56,463 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$906
±$236 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
Where is Wadesboro and what county is it in?
Wadesboro is a town in Anson County, North Carolina. It covers 6.6 square miles of land, 759 residents per square mile in 2020.
Wadesboro is in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 11 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Wadesboro, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 5,035 people lived in Wadesboro on July 1, 2025, up 0.1% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020 Census counted 5,008 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 4,972 (±25).
| Measure | Wadesboro | Anson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 4,972 ±25 | 22,289 | −333 |
| Households | 1,996 ±263 | 8,548 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.36 ±0.31 | 2.41 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,373 ±263 | 9,954 | no clear change |
Wadesboro's population since 2000
From 3,552 in 2000 to 5,035 in 2025: up 41.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Wadesboro 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.
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 Wadesboro?
The median resident of Wadesboro is 43.3 years old; 22.1% are under 18 and 20.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 64.5%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 27.5%.
| Measure | Wadesboro | Anson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 ±7.9 | 41.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.1% ±5.4 pts | 19.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.0% ±5.0 pts | 19.7% | – |
| Male | 50.3% ±5.2 pts | 51.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.6% ±1.1 pts | 4.2% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 27.5% ±7.8 pts | 43.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 64.5% ±8.2 pts | 44.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.3% ±4.1 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.7 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.2% ±2.8 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.8 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.1% ±2.2 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.8% ±3.5 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.8% ±4.1 pts | 6.6% | – |
| With a disability | 21.6% ±5.0 pts | 21.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 12.7% ±5.5 pts | 13.3% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.0% ±6.0 pts | 83.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 16.9% ±6.3 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.0% ±3.7 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.4% ±9.1 pts | 87.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.1% ±1.3 pts | 1.0% | – |
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 Wadesboro earn?
Half of Wadesboro's 1,996 households earn less than $42,667 a year (±$16,242), against $47,302 in Anson County and $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $32,835 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 27.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Wadesboro | Anson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $42,667 ±$16,242 | $47,302 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $67,430 ±$19,820 | $61,087 | – |
| Per capita income | $26,380 ±$5,967 | $24,781 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 27.4% ±9.1 pts | 21.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 47.1% ±17.1 pts | 32.2% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 41.2% ±9.2 pts | 33.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 88.4% ±5.5 pts | 90.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.3% ±5.7 pts | 85.4% | – |
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 Wadesboro?
Owners occupy 63.1% of Wadesboro's occupied homes and renters 36.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $153,200 by its owner (±$56,463). The median renter pays $906 a month including utilities, and 40.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Wadesboro | Anson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $153,200 ±$56,463 | $148,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $906 ±$236 | $814 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 40.2% ±14.8 pts | 35.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,188 ±$85 | $1,241 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 63.1% ±8.0 pts | 68.5% | +16.5 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 36.9% ±8.0 pts | 31.5% | – |
| Housing units | 2,373 ±263 | 9,954 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±3.3 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.2% ±5.3 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 78.8% ±7.1 pts | 69.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 7.4% ±5.7 pts | 26.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.8 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.2% ±1.9 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 10.7% ±4.7 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 13.5% ±6.7 pts | 9.4% | – |
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 Wadesboro work and get to work?
61.7% of Wadesboro's workers drive alone and 13.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.7 minutes.
| Measure | Wadesboro | Anson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 58.8% ±5.7 pts | 51.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.0% ±5.6 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 61.7% ±11.2 pts | 73.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 23.4% ±10.0 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 1.1% ±1.4 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.8% ±8.1 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.7 min ±7.1 | 29.4 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 Wadesboro?
1 census tract lies mostly in Wadesboro, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9205.02Anson County | 4,248 | $51,279 |
| Tract 9204Anson County | 2,335 | $32,311 |
| Tract 9205.01Anson County | 1,097 | $33,061 |
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 Wadesboro) · Census block assignment files
How does Wadesboro compare with other places in North Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Wadesboro is the 4,879th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 151st-most populous of 549 in North Carolina.
Wadesboro ranks 369th of 434 places in North Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 151st | 549 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 284th | 331 |
| Residents per square mile | 279th | 443 |
| Median household income | 369th | 434 |
| Per capita income | 348th | 443 |
| Median home value | 372nd | 438 |
| Median gross rent | 248th | 395 |
| Poverty rate | 55th | 341 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 337th | 421 |
| Median age | 158th | 442 |
| Owner-occupied share | 257th | 443 |
| Work from home | 142nd | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 65th | 439 |
Wadesboro's figures with every place in North Carolina (CSV)
Every place in North Carolina, sortable · Compare Wadesboro 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 Wadesboro?
18 of the 57 figures for Wadesboro 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 Wadesboro 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 Wadesboro.