County · North Carolina
Gates County, North Carolina
Gates County, North Carolina. Gates County had 10,234 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.3% since 2020, while North Carolina grew 7.2%. It holds 2 places (1 city, village or borough and 1 census-designated) and 3 census tracts. GEOID 37073.
Gates County is one of the 18 counties of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
10,234
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 10,478 · ACS 2020-2024: 10,376
Median household income
$66,333
±$9,431 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$170,800
±$11,478 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$1,143
±$207 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
How many people live in Gates County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 10,478 residents in Gates County. The Census Bureau estimates 10,234 for July 1, 2025, down 2.3% since 2020, while North Carolina grew 7.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 10,376 over 341 square miles of land.
| Measure | Gates County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 10,376 | 10,730,404 | −1,172 |
| Households | 4,192±180 | 4,282,345 | −446 |
| Average household size | 2.46±0.11 | 2.44 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,827±16 | 4,895,668 | −553 |
Gates County's population since 2000
From 10,516 in 2000 to 10,234 in 2025: down 2.7%. 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.
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 Gates County?
Gates County holds 2 places: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Sunbury with 251 residents (2020-2024). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| SunburyGEOID 3765700 | 276 | $62,902 |
|---|---|---|
| GatesvilleGEOID 3725680 | 267 | $73,611 |
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 Gates County?
The median resident of Gates County is 47.6 years old; 19.2% are under 18 and 22.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 63.2%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 31.0%. 1.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Gates County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.6±0.6 | 39.1 | +1.1 |
| Under 18 years | 19.2%±0.3 pts | 21.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 22.7%±0.3 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.2% | 11.3% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 63.2%±0.9 pts | 60.0% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 31.0%±1.1 pts | 20.0% | −2.4 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 3.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.1%±1.5 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.4%±0.8 pts | 9.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.2%±1.3 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.8%±2.0 pts | 7.4% | – |
| With a disability | 17.7%±3.1 pts | 13.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.2%±2.1 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.1%±2.2 pts | 90.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 10.9%±2.6 pts | 35.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.3%±1.8 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.6%±3.8 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 Gates County earn?
Half of Gates County's 4,192 households earn less than $66,333 a year (±$9,431), against $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $62,458 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Gates County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $66,333±$9,431 | $72,388 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $75,387±$6,153 | $101,208 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,687±$2,415 | $41,385 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.4%±3.0 pts | 13.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 9.5%±6.2 pts | 17.7% | −13.2 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 14.0%±3.6 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 76.8%±4.1 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 Gates County?
Owners occupy 80.9% of Gates County's occupied homes and renters 19.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $170,800 by its owner (±$11,478). The median renter pays $1,143 a month including utilities, and 24.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Gates County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $170,800±$11,478 | $288,900 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $1,143±$207 | $1,228 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 24.8%±15.8 pts | 39.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,423±$74 | $1,631 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 80.9%±4.5 pts | 66.6% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,827±16 | 4,895,668 | −553 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.8%±1.8 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.8%±2.6 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 60.9%±5.0 pts | 65.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 37.7%±5.0 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.8%±1.8 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 9.0%±2.7 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 Gates County building?
Builders took permits for 12 new housing units across Gates County in 2025 (12 single-family), 1.2 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 Gates County get to work?
83.6% of Gates County's workers drive alone and 4.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 41.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.9%.
| Measure | Gates County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 55.8%±3.8 pts | 62.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.9%±3.1 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 83.6%±4.1 pts | 71.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.3%±3.9 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.9 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 0.4%±0.4 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.5%±1.8 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 41.7 min±4.1 | 25.1 min | +5.1 min |
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 Gates County's census tracts?
Gates County is divided into 3 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $60,000 (Tract 9703) to $71,250 (Tract 9701).
| Tract 970137073970100 | 4,349±449 | $71,250 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 970237073970200 | 3,481±417 | $63,061 |
| Tract 970337073970300 | 2,546±369 | $60,000 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Gates County compare with North Carolina's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 96th of 100 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 94th of 100 |
| Residents per square mile | 94th of 100 |
| Median household income | 33rd of 100 |
| Median home value | 73rd of 100 |
| Median gross rent | 25th of 100 |
| Poverty rate | 91st of 100 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 99th of 100 |
| Median age | 23rd 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 Gates 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.