County · North Carolina
Alexander County, North Carolina
Alexander County, North Carolina. Alexander County had 36,958 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.4% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). It holds 4 places (1 city, village or borough and 3 census-designated) and 7 census tracts. GEOID 37003.
Alexander County is one of the 4 counties of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
36,958
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 36,444 · ACS 2020-2024: 36,412
Median household income
$65,354
±$4,962 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$211,800
±$11,234 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$764
±$29 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
How many people live in Alexander County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 36,444 residents in Alexander County. The Census Bureau estimates 36,958 for July 1, 2025, up 1.4% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 36,412 over 260 square miles of land.
| Measure | Alexander County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 36,412 | 10,730,404 | −801 |
| Households | 14,126±362 | 4,282,345 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.47±0.06 | 2.44 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 16,218±48 | 4,895,668 | −247 |
Alexander County's population since 2000
From 33,603 in 2000 to 36,958 in 2025: up 10.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Alexander County?
Alexander County holds 4 places: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place) and 3 census-designated places. The largest is Bethlehem with 4,101 residents (2020-2024). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Bethlehem | 4,491 | $87,795 |
|---|---|---|
| Taylorsville | 2,320 | $39,423 |
| Stony PointGEOID 3765260 | 1,146 | $73,209 |
| HiddeniteGEOID 3731260 | 507 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Alexander County?
The median resident of Alexander County is 43.8 years old; 19.6% are under 18 and 21.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 85.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 5.6%. 3.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Alexander County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8±0.6 | 39.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 19.6%±0.2 pts | 21.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.2%±0.5 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.6% | 11.3% | +0.9 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 85.5%±0.1 pts | 60.0% | −1.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 5.0%±0.7 pts | 20.0% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.0%±0.2 pts | 3.3% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.8%±0.8 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.0%±0.8 pts | 9.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.3%±1.1 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.3%±1.1 pts | 7.4% | – |
| With a disability | 18.8%±2.2 pts | 13.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.1%±1.8 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.8%±2.0 pts | 90.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 16.7%±2.4 pts | 35.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.4%±1.4 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4%±0.7 pts | 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 Alexander County earn?
Half of Alexander County's 14,126 households earn less than $65,354 a year (±$4,962), against $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $60,004 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Alexander County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $65,354±$4,962 | $72,388 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $83,653±$5,989 | $101,208 | – |
| Per capita income | $33,425±$2,466 | $41,385 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 12.6%±2.5 pts | 13.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 22.4%±6.0 pts | 17.7% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.5%±2.3 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.1%±2.3 pts | 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 Alexander County?
Owners occupy 80.7% of Alexander County's occupied homes and renters 19.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $211,800 by its owner (±$11,234). The median renter pays $764 a month including utilities, and 31.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Alexander County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $211,800±$11,234 | $288,900 | +$43,810 |
| Median gross rent | $764±$29 | $1,228 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 31.3%±7.8 pts | 39.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,215±$84 | $1,631 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 80.7%±2.5 pts | 66.6% | +5.0 pts |
| Housing units | 16,218±48 | 4,895,668 | −247 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.8%±0.7 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.5%±2.9 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.3%±2.6 pts | 65.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 23.5%±2.8 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.9%±0.9 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.5%±1.3 pts | 4.9% | – |
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 many new homes is Alexander County building?
Builders took permits for 103 new housing units across Alexander County in 2025 (103 single-family), 2.8 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Alexander County get to work?
84.9% of Alexander County's workers drive alone and 6.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.0%.
| Measure | Alexander County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.3%±2.4 pts | 62.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0%±2.3 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 84.9%±2.7 pts | 71.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.8%±2.1 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 0.9%±0.5 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.1%±1.5 pts | 16.3% | +2.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.6 min±1.7 | 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 are Alexander County's census tracts?
Alexander County is divided into 7 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $53,016 (Tract 404) to $77,398 (Tract 405).
| Tract 40137003040100 | 3,068±585 | $53,750 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 40237003040200 | 3,842±640 | $58,924 |
| Tract 40337003040300 | 3,155±484 | $58,764 |
| Tract 40437003040400 | 6,361±643 | $53,016 |
| Tract 40537003040500 | 6,925±655 | $77,398 |
| Tract 40637003040600 | 6,210±655 | $58,971 |
| Tract 40737003040700 | 6,851±715 | $74,161 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Alexander County compare with North Carolina's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 67th of 100 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 70th of 100 |
| Residents per square mile | 41st of 100 |
| Median household income | 39th of 100 |
| Median home value | 56th of 100 |
| Median gross rent | 85th of 100 |
| Poverty rate | 67th of 100 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 85th of 100 |
| Median age | 46th of 100 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Alexander County 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' school search.