County · North Carolina
Surry County, North Carolina
Surry County, North Carolina. Surry County had 72,287 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.3% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). It holds 8 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs and 4 census-designated) and 23 census tracts. GEOID 37171.
Surry County is the county of the Mount Airy, NC micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
72,287
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 71,359 · ACS 2020-2024: 71,425
Median household income
$55,656
±$3,280 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$177,600
±$7,293 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$761
±$23 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
How many people live in Surry County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 71,359 residents in Surry County. The Census Bureau estimates 72,287 for July 1, 2025, up 1.3% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 71,425 over 533 square miles of land.
| Measure | Surry County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 71,425 | 10,730,404 | −546 |
| Households | 29,869±421 | 4,282,345 | +716 |
| Average household size | 2.36±0.03 | 2.44 | −0.07 |
| Housing units | 33,747±137 | 4,895,668 | −413 |
Surry County's population since 2000
From 71,219 in 2000 to 72,287 in 2025: up 1.5%. 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.
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 Surry County?
Surry County holds 8 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 4 census-designated places. The largest is Mount Airy with 10,682 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Mount Airy | 10,676 | $40,275 |
|---|---|---|
| Elkin | 4,122 | $60,740 |
| Dobson | 1,462 | $43,750 |
| Pilot Mountain | 1,440 | $49,200 |
| Toast | 1,423 | $35,111 |
| Flat Rock, Surry County | 1,326 | $42,018 |
| White PlainsGEOID 3773460 | 1,025 | $44,242 |
| LowgapGEOID 3739540 | 267 | $60,368 |
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 Surry County?
The median resident of Surry County is 43.8 years old; 21.1% are under 18 and 20.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 81.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 12.5%. 6.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Surry County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8±0.5 | 39.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.1%±0.1 pts | 21.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.6%±0.1 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 12.5% | 11.3% | +1.9 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 81.1%±0.3 pts | 60.0% | −2.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.6%±0.3 pts | 20.0% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.1 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 | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.8%±0.3 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 6.1%±0.9 pts | 9.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 11.4%±0.8 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.3%±0.6 pts | 7.4% | – |
| With a disability | 19.1%±1.3 pts | 13.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.8%±1.0 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 83.7%±1.5 pts | 90.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.4%±1.2 pts | 35.7% | +2.4 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.1%±0.8 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4%±0.6 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 Surry County earn?
Half of Surry County's 29,869 households earn less than $55,656 a year (±$3,280), against $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $53,655 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 16.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Surry County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $55,656±$3,280 | $72,388 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $76,579±$3,447 | $101,208 | – |
| Per capita income | $32,573±$1,450 | $41,385 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 16.8%±1.7 pts | 13.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 19.6%±4.0 pts | 17.7% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 19.5%±1.9 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.0%±1.4 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 Surry County?
Owners occupy 73.4% of Surry County's occupied homes and renters 26.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $177,600 by its owner (±$7,293). The median renter pays $761 a month including utilities, and 34.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Surry County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $177,600±$7,293 | $288,900 | +$21,425 |
| Median gross rent | $761±$23 | $1,228 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 34.5%±4.7 pts | 39.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,252±$52 | $1,631 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 73.4%±2.1 pts | 66.6% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 33,747±137 | 4,895,668 | −413 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.0%±0.5 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.6%±1.9 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 66.2%±1.9 pts | 65.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 23.0%±1.9 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.9%±0.3 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.7%±1.2 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 Surry County building?
Builders took permits for 244 new housing units across Surry County in 2025 (236 single-family), 3.4 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 Surry County get to work?
78.1% of Surry County's workers drive alone and 6.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.4%.
| Measure | Surry County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.1%±1.5 pts | 62.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4%±1.0 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 78.1%±1.8 pts | 71.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.8%±1.7 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 0.6%±0.4 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.7%±0.9 pts | 16.3% | +4.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.3 min±1.0 | 25.1 min | −2.0 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 Surry County's census tracts?
Surry County is divided into 23 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $21,089 (Tract 9304) to $83,286 (Tract 9311.03).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Surry County compare with North Carolina's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 38th of 100 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 76th of 100 |
| Residents per square mile | 44th of 100 |
| Median household income | 71st of 100 |
| Median home value | 71st of 100 |
| Median gross rent | 86th of 100 |
| Poverty rate | 33rd of 100 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 64th 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 Surry 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.