Bladen County, North Carolina Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Bladen County, North Carolina, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Bladen County, North Carolina. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Bladen County, North Carolina. The estimated population of Bladen County, North Carolina is 30,105 people, with a median age of 44.6.

We can look at the total population in Bladen County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
30,105
 -9.35% -11.79%
2020
33,209
 -0.59% -
2019
33,407
 -1.1% -
2018
33,778
 -1.03% -
2017
34,130
 - -

Population of Bladen County, North Carolina by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
54.5%
54.2%
 +0.55%
Black/African American
33.9%
34.4%
 -1.45%
Native
2.9%
2.3%
 +26.09%
Hispanic
7.8%
7.5%
 +4.00%
Asian
0.2%
0%
 0.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
0.6%
1.1%
 -45.45%
Other
0%
0.4%
 -100.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Bladen County, North Carolina by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 44.6 -0.45% 44 +3.77% 45.7 -0.87%
2020 44.8 +0.67% 42.4 +0.71% 46.1 -0.43%
2019 44.5 +2.06% 42.1 +0.72% 46.3 +2.21%
2018 43.6 +1.87% 41.8 +1.21% 45.3 +1.12%
2017 42.8 - 41.3 - 44.8 -

The median age of Bladen County, North Carolina gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 1,942 +4.85% 2,049 -40.76% 2,034 1,328
10 to 19 2,140 -25.77% 1,882 +5.85% 1,619 1,950
20 to 29 1,824 -16.22% 1,904 -1.28% 1,532 1,841
30 to 39 2,041 -26.87% 2,011 -20.25% 1,536 1,628
40 to 49 1,880 -5.37% 2,225 -18.45% 1,760 1,840
50 to 59 2,210 -11.26% 2,488 -17.09% 1,962 2,071
60 to 69 2,331 -7.91% 2,798 -8.11% 2,148 2,570
70+ 1,873 -0.72% 2,532 -2.57% 1,838 2,448

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Bladen County, North Carolina is $39,259.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Bladen County.

  • Under 25
    $67,348.00
  • 25 to 44
    $40,108.00
  • 45 to 64
    $43,323.00
  • 65 and over
    $35,217.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Bladen County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Bladen County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Bladen County, North Carolina is currently $60,434.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

4.05% of households in Bladen County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Bladen County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    35.69%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    23.76%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    15.73%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    10.61%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    7.70%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    2.47%
  • $200,000 or more
    4.05%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Bladen County is $25,975.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Bladen County by the total population of Bladen County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Bladen County, North Carolina, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Bladen County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    7.44%
  • Bachelor's degree
    23.22%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    16.06%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    50.17%
  • Less than high school diploma
    3.11%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Bladen County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Bladen County over the age of 16 is 24,679.

Of those people, a total of 49.50% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Bladen County is 46.30%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 1,505 38.40% 21.60%
20 to 24 years 1,670 56.00% 3.00%
25 to 29 years 1,703 64.10% 6.30%
30 to 34 years 1,485 78.30% 12.80%
35 to 44 years 3,460 71.50% 4.40%
45 to 54 years 3,746 68.80% 6.80%
55 to 59 years 2,106 65.20% 2.90%
60 to 64 years 2,369 36.60% 3.00%
65 to 74 years 4,166 23.10% 1.00%
75 years and over 2,469 8.10% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Bladen County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 14,386 50.00% 5.10%
Black or African American 8,618 47.30% 8.60%
American Indian and Alaska Native 693 38.40% 3.80%
Asian 58 70.70% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 802 68.00% 0.00%
Two or more races 122 78.70% 11.50%
Hispanic or Latino 1,473 61.20% 2.60%
Not Hispanic or Latino 13,941 49.90% 5.00%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Bladen County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Bladen County is 11,427, with median earnings of $33,093.00.

Women in Bladen County, North Carolina earning approximately 89.00% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 11,427 $33,093.00
Male 6,086 $35,240.00
Female 5,341 $31,367.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 1,028 $61,597.00
Business and Financial 505 $54,095.00
Computer and Mathematical 75 $39,766.00
Architecture and Engineering 99 $58,272.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 81 $113,875.00
Community and Social Service 213 $44,395.00
Legal 49 $40,268.00
Educational and Library 536 $38,382.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 118 $28,462.00
Healthcare Practitioners 713 $72,543.00
Healthcare Support 663 $18,250.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 323 $40,573.00
Law Enforcement 190 $35,417.00
Food Preparation and Serving 703 $14,887.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 384 $21,745.00
Personal Care and Service 166 $32,667.00
Sales 1,048 $18,923.00
Office and Administrative Support 880 $33,004.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 529 $27,628.00
Construction and Extraction 404 $33,889.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 742 $33,520.00
Production 958 $32,363.00
Transportation and Material Moving 503 $43,345.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 732 $79,661.00 296 $44,151.00
Business and Financial 286 $53,877.00 219 $54,867.00
Computer and Mathematical 46 $53,235.00 29 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 64 $45,750.00 35 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 52 $120,694.00 29 $36,838.00
Community and Social Service 64 $35,000.00 149 $60,359.00
Legal 32 $41,786.00 17 $0.00
Educational and Library 71 $28,125.00 465 $38,493.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 8 $0.00 110 $28,615.00
Healthcare Practitioners 100 $125,909.00 613 $65,313.00
Healthcare Support 26 $0.00 637 $18,683.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 299 $41,823.00 24 $24,167.00
Law Enforcement 89 $38,558.00 101 $35,162.00
Food Preparation and Serving 318 $13,913.00 385 $16,627.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 255 $20,259.00 129 $24,886.00
Personal Care and Service 66 $41,010.00 100 $19,583.00
Sales 193 $15,272.00 855 $19,712.00
Office and Administrative Support 216 $26,719.00 664 $33,183.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 487 $25,917.00 42 $30,909.00
Construction and Extraction 371 $33,287.00 33 $108,207.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 695 $33,393.00 47 $40,694.00
Production 755 $39,645.00 203 $23,250.00
Transportation and Material Moving 469 $44,010.00 34 $4,861.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 11,492 households in Bladen County, with an average household size of 2.58 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 7,069 families in Bladen County with an average family size of 3.38 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 4,756 412 1,901 4,423
Average Household Size 3.23 4.48 3.79 1.19
Total Families 4,756 412 1,901 0
Average Household Size 3.22 4.07 3.63 0

Poverty

Of the 7,069 families in Bladen County, 19.70% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Bladen County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 15,459 housing units in Bladen County, North Carolina.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 11,492 74.34%
Vacant 3,967 25.66%

17.31% of the total 15,459 housing units in Bladen County are rental units. This is approximately 2,676 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 8,010 are occupied by the owner - or 51.81% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Bladen County is $687.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Bladen County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    806
  • Less than $500
    631
  • $500 to $999
    1,822
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    215
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    6
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    2
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Bladen County is $106,000.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Bladen County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    1,798
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    1,997
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    1,368
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    776
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    986
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    929
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    120
  • $1,000,000 or more
    36

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Bladen County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Bladen County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    630
  • 1940 to 1949
    798
  • 1950 to 1959
    1,347
  • 1960 to 1969
    1,295
  • 1970 to 1979
    2,908
  • 1980 to 1989
    2,052
  • 1990 to 1999
    3,522
  • 2000 to 2009
    2,042
  • 2010 to 2013
    857
  • 2014 or later
    8

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Bladen County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    1,017
  • 1 vehicle available
    3,375
  • 2 vehicles available
    3,630
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    3,470

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Bladen County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Bladen County that commute to work in a particular way.

25.8 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Bladen County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    812
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,087
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    936
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    1,608
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    1,296
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    481
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    1,773
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    398
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    391
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    1,021
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    354
  • 90 or more minutes
    262

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Bladen County, North Carolina in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Bladen County, North Carolina

We have data for 23 places in Bladen County, North Carolina. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.