Census tract · Rowan County
Census Tract 502.02, Rowan County, North Carolina
Census Tract 502.02, GEOID 37159050202, in Rowan County, North Carolina, mostly within Salisbury (86% of its census blocks). 5,459 residents in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±789); the 2020 Census counted 5,347.
Residents, 2020-2024
5,459
±789 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 5,347
Median household income
$53,423
±$15,084 (90% margin)
Rowan County: $65,725
Median home value
$243,600
±$32,720 (90% margin)
Rowan County: $238,400
Median gross rent
$1,158
±$314 (90% margin)
Rowan County: $1,013
Where is Census Tract 502.02?
Census Tract 502.02 is one of 31 census tracts in Rowan County, North Carolina. It covers 4.72 square miles of land, 1,133 residents per square mile in 2020. Its GEOID, 37159050202, names it uniquely (how tract numbers and GEOIDs work).
| Place | Share of the tract |
|---|---|
| Salisbury | 86% |
7 census tracts border Census Tract 502.02: Tract 502.01 ($58,108), Tract 503 ($58,938), Tract 510.02 ($77,656), Tract 511.01 ($62,305), Tract 511.02 ($74,274), Tract 512.04 ($78,750) and Tract 520 ($42,266). The figure in brackets is each tract's median household income.
Whether a tract counts as low- or moderate-income for bank lending (the Community Reinvestment Act) is set by the FFIEC against its metro area's family income: look it up in the FFIEC census geocoder.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 block assignment files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Census Tract 502.02?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Census Tract 502.02's population at 5,459 (±789) in 2,304 households; the 2020 Census counted 5,347 residents and 2,435 housing units.
| Measure | Tract 502.02 | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,459 ±789 | 35,825 |
| Households | 2,304 ±265 | 14,043 |
| Average household size | 2.28 ±0.33 | 2.30 |
| Housing units | 2,493 ±223 | 15,637 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Census Tract 502.02?
The median resident of Census Tract 502.02 is 32.4 years old; 27.2% are under 18 and 20.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 63.8%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 34.8%.
| Measure | Tract 502.02 | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.4 ±2.5 | 36.5 |
| Under 18 years | 27.2% ±6.7 pts | 21.9% |
| 65 years and over | 20.1% ±5.9 pts | 17.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.4% ±0.8 pts | 11.5% |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 63.8% ±7.6 pts | 49.1% |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 34.8% ±7.3 pts | 35.0% |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 1.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.8 pts | 0.1% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.0% |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 3.0% |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.3% |
| Born outside the United States | 1.1% ±1.5 pts | 6.4% |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.5% ±1.8 pts | 11.4% |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.5% ±2.8 pts | 6.6% |
| With a disability | 21.1% ±8.4 pts | 16.0% |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.7% ±3.2 pts | 7.7% |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.5% ±5.0 pts | 87.1% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 23.6% ±8.4 pts | 29.9% |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.8% ±5.1 pts | 12.1% |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 77.8% ±13.1 pts | 86.4% |
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 Census Tract 502.02 earn?
Half of the 2,304 households in Census Tract 502.02 earn less than $53,423 a year (±$15,084), against $65,725 across Rowan County: 26th highest of the county's 31 tracts with a reliable estimate. 26.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Tract 502.02 | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $53,423 ±$15,084 | $53,716 |
| Mean household income | $65,064 ±$12,066 | $78,180 |
| Per capita income | $28,728 ±$3,691 | $32,043 |
| People below the poverty line | 26.2% ±7.5 pts | 26.3% |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 41.7% ±18.8 pts | 42.5% |
| Households receiving SNAP | 22.1% ±6.9 pts | 23.6% |
| Households with a computer | 93.3% ±4.7 pts | 93.9% |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.6% ±5.5 pts | 86.9% |
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 Census Tract 502.02?
Owners occupy 53.2% of Census Tract 502.02's occupied homes and renters 46.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $243,600 by its owner (±$32,720). The median renter pays $1,158 a month including utilities, and 35.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Tract 502.02 | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $243,600 ±$32,720 | $242,500 |
| Median gross rent | $1,158 ±$314 | $1,071 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.5% ±19.3 pts | 44.6% |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,598 ±$254 | $1,500 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 53.2% ±9.7 pts | 51.8% |
| Renter-occupied homes | 46.8% ±9.7 pts | 48.2% |
| Housing units | 2,493 ±223 | 15,637 |
| Single-family detached homes | 69.1% ±8.6 pts | 62.2% |
| Mobile homes | 4.7% ±4.4 pts | 2.8% |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.9% ±4.3 pts | 1.8% |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 20.1% ±8.5 pts | 9.1% |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.6% ±5.6 pts | 14.1% |
| Households with no vehicle | 11.4% ±7.3 pts | 13.4% |
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 do people in Census Tract 502.02 get to work?
83.7% of Census Tract 502.02's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 19.4 minutes.
| Measure | Tract 502.02 | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.6% ±8.0 pts | 55.2% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% ±4.9 pts | 5.8% |
| Drove alone to work | 83.7% ±8.0 pts | 72.2% |
| Carpooled | 4.5% ±3.7 pts | 11.7% |
| Public transportation | 3.7% ±5.3 pts | 1.9% |
| Walked | 0.0% ±1.7 pts | 1.8% |
| Worked from home | 6.2% ±5.3 pts | 8.7% |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.4 min ±2.9 | 21.8 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
How does Census Tract 502.02 compare with the other tracts in Rowan County?
Among Rowan County's tracts with a reliable estimate, Census Tract 502.02 ranks as shown below (1 = highest).
| Measure | In Rowan County | In Salisbury |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 12th of 31 | 4th of 13 |
| Residents per square mile | 6th of 31 | 5th of 13 |
| Median household income | 26th of 31 | 10th of 13 |
| Per capita income | 27th of 31 | 10th of 13 |
| Median home value | 13th of 31 | 6th of 13 |
| Median gross rent | 6th of 29 | 6th of 12 |
| Poverty rate | 3rd of 28 | 3rd of 11 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13th of 30 | 9th of 13 |
| Median age | 30th of 31 | 12th of 13 |
| Owner-occupied share | 28th of 31 | 10th of 13 |
The tracts next to it on Rowan County's income ladder
| Tract | Rank | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 516 | 23rd | $59,070±$15,346 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 503 | 24th | $58,938±$3,558 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 502.01 | 25th | $58,108±$11,789 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 502.02 | 26th | $53,423±$15,084 |
| Tract 517 | 27th | $52,960±$9,270 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 513.03 | 28th | $50,570±$10,248 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 508 | 29th | $50,451±$7,132 · within the margin of this tract |
"Within the margin": the two incomes differ by less than their combined 90% margins, so the survey cannot say which is higher and the ranks between them are not firm.
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Census Tract 502.02?
3 of the 18 figures for Census Tract 502.02 on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
A census tract's figures rest on a few hundred sampled households over five years, so its margins are wider than a city's. Two tracts differ only when the gap between them is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins). How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections