County · North Carolina

Stanly County, North Carolina

Stanly County, North Carolina. Stanly County had 68,830 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 10.1% since 2020, faster than North Carolina (+7.2%). It holds 12 places (10 cities, villages and boroughs and 2 census-designated) and 17 census tracts. GEOID 37167.

Stanly County is the county of the Albemarle, NC micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

68,830

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 62,504 · ACS 2020-2024: 64,651

Median household income

$60,704

±$3,835 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388

Median home value

$242,400

±$7,205 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900

Median gross rent

$861

±$32 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228

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

The 2020 Census counted 62,504 residents in Stanly County. The Census Bureau estimates 68,830 for July 1, 2025, up 10.1% since 2020, faster than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 64,651 over 395 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +490 (63,156)
2021→2022 +1,138 (64,294)
2022→2023 +1,552 (65,846)
2023→2024 +1,686 (67,532)
2024→2025 +1,298 (68,830)

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

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Stanly County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	64,651	10,730,404	+3,063
Households	25,240±380	4,282,345	+1,908
Average household size	2.49±0.04	2.44	no clear change
Housing units	28,632±62	4,895,668	+827

Stanly County's population since 2000

From 58,100 in 2000 to 68,830 in 2025: up 18.5%. 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 58,100
2005 (estimate) 58,931
2010 Census 60,585
2015 (estimate) 60,624
2020 Census 62,504
2025 (estimate) 68,830

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 Stanly County?

Stanly County holds 12 places: 10 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Albemarle with 17,769 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 Stanly County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Albemarle	city	16,432	16,762±39	$46,881	$204,800	24.9%	100%
Locust	city	4,537	5,840±432	$76,504	$322,100	8.7%	88%
Norwood	town	2,367	2,433±17	$51,639	$185,200	8.5%	100%
Oakboro	town	2,128	2,683±444	$69,100	$282,600	5.5%	100%
Badin	town	2,024	2,184±304	$53,145	$160,200	19.6%	100%
Stanfield	town	1,585	1,522±297	$79,250	$335,800	9.3%	100%
Red Cross	town	762	903±227	$64,500	$257,000	7.7%	100%
MisenheimerGEOID 3743580	village	650	659±117	$60,417	$225,000	21.8%	100%
New London	town	607	608±202	$61,875	$296,200	18.7%	100%
MillingportGEOID 3743200	CDP	588	522±202	$84,464	$209,900	2.9%	100%
Richfield	town	582	937±304	$70,750	$219,900	11.4%	100%
AquadaleGEOID 3701560	CDP	348	156±97	$69,063	$156,300	0.0%	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 Stanly County?

The median resident of Stanly County is 40.5 years old; 21.7% are under 18 and 19.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 78.0%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 11.2%. 4.4% 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	Stanly County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	40.5±0.5	39.1	−1.7
Under 18 years	21.7%	21.8%	–
65 years and over	19.1%±0.2 pts	17.2%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	5.7%	11.3%	+1.5 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	78.0%±0.5 pts	60.0%	−2.8 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	11.2%±0.5 pts	20.0%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	1.9%±0.2 pts	3.3%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.8%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.3 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.8%±0.6 pts	4.1%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	4.4%±0.6 pts	9.1%	+0.9 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	7.0%±0.8 pts	13.5%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.5%±0.9 pts	7.4%	–
With a disability	17.5%±1.3 pts	13.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	9.0%±1.2 pts	9.9%	−2.2 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	88.5%±1.4 pts	90.1%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	19.9%±2.0 pts	35.7%	+2.6 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	5.5%±0.8 pts	13.5%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.0%±0.4 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 Stanly County earn?

Half of Stanly County's 25,240 households earn less than $60,704 a year (±$3,835), against $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $64,763 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 15.2% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Stanly County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$60,704±$3,835	$72,388	no clear change
Mean household income	$78,208±$3,205	$101,208	–
Per capita income	$31,661±$1,214	$41,385	no clear change
People below the poverty line	15.2%±1.7 pts	13.0%	+2.3 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line	22.9%±3.5 pts	17.7%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	15.4%±1.7 pts	12.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	88.4%±1.7 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 Stanly County?

Owners occupy 74.5% of Stanly County's occupied homes and renters 25.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $242,400 by its owner (±$7,205). The median renter pays $861 a month including utilities, and 39.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Stanly County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$242,400±$7,205	$288,900	+$71,457
Median gross rent	$861±$32	$1,228	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	39.3%±4.9 pts	39.6%	+8.1 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,420±$50	$1,631	–
Owner-occupied homes	74.5%±1.9 pts	66.6%	no clear change
Housing units	28,632±62	4,895,668	+827
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.7%±0.5 pts	1.3%	–
Rental vacancy rate	3.3%±1.8 pts	7.1%	–
Single-family detached homes	79.7%±1.8 pts	65.3%	–
Mobile homes	11.5%±1.3 pts	11.0%	–
Built 2020 or later	2.8%±0.8 pts	3.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	11.7%±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 Stanly County building?

Builders took permits for 336 new housing units across Stanly County in 2025 (336 single-family), 4.9 per 1,000 residents.

2019 385 units
2020 300 units
2021 366 units
2022 373 units
2023 349 units
2024 367 units
2025 336 units

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

How do people in Stanly County get to work?

78.2% of Stanly County's workers drive alone and 9.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.1%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Stanly County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	58.4%±1.3 pts	62.8%	–
Unemployment rate	4.1%±0.9 pts	4.7%	−1.6 pts
Drove alone to work	78.2%±1.7 pts	71.5%	–
Carpooled	10.4%±1.4 pts	8.5%	–
Public transportation	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.7%	–
Walked	0.6%±0.2 pts	1.6%	–
Worked from home	9.8%±1.5 pts	16.3%	+5.4 pts
Mean travel time to work	28.1 min±1.1	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 Stanly County's census tracts?

Stanly County is divided into 17 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $22,500 (Tract 9312.03) to $78,277 (Tract 9308.02).

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

Tract 9301.0137167930101	Richfield (24%)	4,251	4,889±436	$61,500	$220,500	$831	13.3%
Tract 9301.0237167930102	New London (29%)	3,797	3,973±507	$63,207	$268,900	$750	18.0%
Tract 930237167930200	Badin (32%)	4,945	4,924±497	$57,031	$232,100	$705	14.1%
Tract 930337167930300	Albemarle (78%)	3,917	4,029±431	$69,655	$227,700	$1,088	9.8%
Tract 930537167930500	Albemarle (78%)	3,478	3,211±454	$56,848	$149,800	$909	13.1%
Tract 930737167930700	Millingport (5%)	4,668	4,501±619	$73,203	$209,400	$1,052	5.7%
Tract 9308.0137167930801	Locust (42%)	5,839	7,271±697	$65,918	$311,300	$840	11.8%
Tract 9308.0237167930802	Stanfield (35%)	4,746	5,154±564	$78,277	$330,700	$830	10.8%
Tract 9309.0137167930901	Oakboro (51%)	2,590	2,833±488	$65,483	$256,500	$1,008	7.1%
Tract 9309.0237167930902	Red Cross (22%)	3,459	3,811±501	$76,996	$278,600	$1,015	19.8%
Tract 9310.0137167931001	Aquadale (23%)	2,347	2,440±642	$66,250	$222,900	$768	6.4%
Tract 9310.0237167931002	Albemarle (43%)	3,441	3,293±467	$53,818	$289,300	$821	27.3%
Tract 9311.0137167931101	Norwood (59%)	2,019	1,790±350	$61,533	$235,900	$930	3.6%
Tract 9311.0237167931102	Norwood (40%)	3,406	2,987±323	$45,625	$228,700	$887	13.9%
Tract 9312.0237167931202	Albemarle (67%)	3,159	2,886±325	$44,824	$177,500	$613	19.5%
Tract 9312.0337167931203	Albemarle	2,767	3,225±546	$22,500	$104,700	$928	47.7%
Tract 9312.0437167931204	Albemarle	3,675	3,434±346	$42,300	$251,900	$893	21.9%

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

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

Stanly County's rank among North Carolina's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	44th of 100
Growth 2020-2025	17th of 100
Residents per square mile	38th of 100
Median household income	50th of 100
Median home value	39th of 100
Median gross rent	58th of 100
Poverty rate	45th of 100
Bachelor's degree or higher	65th of 100
Median age	70th 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 Stanly 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.