County · North Carolina

Edgecombe County, North Carolina

Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Edgecombe County had 49,121 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.5% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). It holds 10 places (10 cities, villages and boroughs) and 14 census tracts. GEOID 37065.

Edgecombe County is one of the 2 counties of the Rocky Mount, NC metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

49,121

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 48,900 · ACS 2020-2024: 48,736

Median household income

$51,265

±$3,893 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388

Median home value

$125,100

±$7,109 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900

Median gross rent

$858

±$30 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228

How many people live in Edgecombe County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 48,900 residents in Edgecombe County. The Census Bureau estimates 49,121 for July 1, 2025, up 0.5% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 48,736 over 505 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −418 (48,363)
2021→2022 +107 (48,470)
2022→2023 +489 (48,959)
2023→2024 +107 (49,066)
2024→2025 +55 (49,121)

Edgecombe County in North Carolina. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Edgecombe County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	48,736	10,730,404	−3,912
Households	19,652±475	4,282,345	−1,499
Average household size	2.44±0.06	2.44	no clear change
Housing units	23,281±41	4,895,668	−1,709

Edgecombe County's population since 2000

From 55,606 in 2000 to 49,121 in 2025: down 11.7%. 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.

2000 Census 55,606
2005 (estimate) 56,151
2010 Census 56,552
2015 (estimate) 53,734
2020 Census 48,900
2025 (estimate) 49,121

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 Edgecombe County?

Edgecombe County holds 10 places: 10 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Rocky Mount with 55,120 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Edgecombe County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Rocky Mount	city	54,341	54,297±36	$55,534	$165,700	19.7%	28%
Tarboro	town	10,721	10,770±23	$49,796	$185,500	18.5%	100%
Princeville	town	1,254	1,619±306	$46,406	$106,000	36.2%	100%
Pinetops	town	1,200	1,426±343	$60,458	$136,500	13.1%	100%
Macclesfield	town	413	391±148	$56,000	$135,200	18.9%	100%
Whitakers	town	627	494±201	$48,869	$148,300	10.5%	46%
Sharpsburg	town	1,697	1,605±408	$54,709	$121,900	19.3%	13%
ConetoeGEOID 3714200	town	198	561±446	$38,776	$86,400	74.5%	100%
SpeedGEOID 3763720	town	63	64±51	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
LeggettGEOID 3737640	town	37	43±35	$41,563	not published	2.3%	100%

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 Edgecombe County?

The median resident of Edgecombe County is 41.7 years old; 22.9% are under 18 and 20.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 55.5%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 34.9%. 3.3% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Edgecombe County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	41.7±0.7	39.1	no clear change
Under 18 years	22.9%±0.1 pts	21.8%	–
65 years and over	20.9%±0.1 pts	17.2%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	6.2%	11.3%	+1.6 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	34.9%±0.2 pts	60.0%	−1.3 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	55.5%±0.6 pts	20.0%	−2.0 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	3.3%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.2 pts	0.8%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.5%±0.6 pts	4.1%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.2 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	3.3%±0.5 pts	9.1%	+1.1 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	6.7%±0.7 pts	13.5%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.7%±1.1 pts	7.4%	–
With a disability	17.8%±1.5 pts	13.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	11.0%±1.4 pts	9.9%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	85.0%±1.4 pts	90.1%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	17.5%±1.7 pts	35.7%	+3.9 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	5.6%±1.0 pts	13.5%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.1%±0.5 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 Edgecombe County earn?

Half of Edgecombe County's 19,652 households earn less than $51,265 a year (±$3,893), against $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 the median was $45,371 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $5,894 after inflation. 21.7% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Edgecombe County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$51,265±$3,893	$72,388	+$5,894
Mean household income	$68,605±$3,658	$101,208	–
Per capita income	$28,085±$1,335	$41,385	+$2,701
People below the poverty line	21.7%±2.6 pts	13.0%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	37.0%±6.3 pts	17.7%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	23.6%±2.3 pts	12.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	80.0%±2.4 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 Edgecombe County?

Owners occupy 60.8% of Edgecombe County's occupied homes and renters 39.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $125,100 by its owner (±$7,109). The median renter pays $858 a month including utilities, and 41.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Edgecombe County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$125,100±$7,109	$288,900	+$19,630
Median gross rent	$858±$30	$1,228	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	41.2%±6.0 pts	39.6%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,252±$49	$1,631	–
Owner-occupied homes	60.8%±2.4 pts	66.6%	no clear change
Housing units	23,281±41	4,895,668	−1,709
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.3%±1.0 pts	1.3%	–
Rental vacancy rate	3.0%±2.2 pts	7.1%	–
Single-family detached homes	65.1%±2.4 pts	65.3%	–
Mobile homes	20.5%±1.7 pts	11.0%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.9%±0.4 pts	3.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	9.8%±1.6 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 Edgecombe County building?

Builders took permits for 53 new housing units across Edgecombe County in 2025 (51 single-family), 1.1 per 1,000 residents.

2019 32 units
2020 42 units
2021 145 units
2022 108 units
2023 79 units
2024 50 units
2025 53 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Edgecombe County get to work?

78.7% of Edgecombe County's workers drive alone and 8.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 8.7%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Edgecombe County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	58.3%±1.8 pts	62.8%	–
Unemployment rate	8.7%±2.6 pts	4.7%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	78.7%±3.1 pts	71.5%	–
Carpooled	8.9%±1.7 pts	8.5%	–
Public transportation	0.7%±0.8 pts	0.7%	–
Walked	0.9%±0.5 pts	1.6%	–
Worked from home	8.3%±1.8 pts	16.3%	+6.2 pts
Mean travel time to work	22.5 min±1.4	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 Edgecombe County's census tracts?

Edgecombe County is divided into 14 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $35,517 (Tract 202) to $72,674 (Tract 214).

Census tracts of Edgecombe County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 20237065020200	Rocky Mount (84%)	5,084	4,483±905	$35,517	$96,800	$836	24.9%
Tract 20337065020300	Rocky Mount (92%)	5,372	5,737±770	$39,592	$116,300	$892	29.4%
Tract 20437065020400	Rocky Mount (98%)	4,335	4,617±840	$46,675	$117,900	$822	33.2%
Tract 20637065020600	Rocky Mount (45%)	2,417	2,364±427	$38,365	$91,400	$1,082	39.4%
Tract 20737065020700	Whitakers (20%)	1,750	1,691±456	$54,830	$97,700	$856	14.4%
Tract 20837065020800	Conetoe (12%)	3,115	3,113±508	$53,664	$116,400	$822	28.1%
Tract 20937065020900	Princeville (58%)	2,062	2,255±362	$42,569	$96,000	$1,026	30.5%
Tract 21037065021000	Tarboro (94%)	3,125	3,037±392	$42,319	$178,900	$1,004	25.1%
Tract 21137065021100	Tarboro (68%)	3,648	3,827±446	$50,000	$122,400	$616	18.8%
Tract 21237065021200	Tarboro (85%)	4,969	5,101±476	$57,880	$218,000	$784	16.8%
Tract 21337065021300	Tarboro (5%)	4,019	3,742±452	$61,228	$109,600	$897	5.7%
Tract 21437065021400	Sharpsburg (10%)	3,490	3,258±482	$72,674	$124,300	$853	12.6%
Tract 21537065021500	Pinetops (66%)	2,878	2,966±420	$60,462	$138,400	$861	11.8%
Tract 21637065021600	Macclesfield (29%)	2,636	2,545±476	$67,050	$146,000	$864	7.7%

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

How does Edgecombe County compare with North Carolina's other counties?

Edgecombe County's rank among North Carolina's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	53rd of 100
Growth 2020-2025	83rd of 100
Residents per square mile	58th of 100
Median household income	82nd of 100
Median home value	90th of 100
Median gross rent	61st of 100
Poverty rate	12th of 100
Bachelor's degree or higher	80th of 100
Median age	59th of 100

Every county in North Carolina

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 Edgecombe 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.