Gates County, North Carolina Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Gates 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 Gates County, North Carolina. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Gates County, North Carolina. The estimated population of Gates County, North Carolina is 10,584 people, with a median age of 47.

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

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
10,584
 -8.12% -8.77%
2020
11,519
 -0.25% -
2019
11,548
 -0.13% -
2018
11,563
 -0.33% -
2017
11,601
 - -

Population of Gates 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
62.7%
62.5%
 +0.32%
Black/African American
29.9%
32.9%
 -9.12%
Native
1%
0.9%
 +11.11%
Hispanic
2.4%
0.7%
 +242.86%
Asian
1.2%
0.4%
 +200.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
2.8%
2.3%
 +21.74%
Other
0%
0.2%
 -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 Gates 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 47 -0.42% 47.2 -0.84% 46.8 0%
2020 47.2 +1.51% 47.6 +3.25% 46.8 +0.21%
2019 46.5 +1.75% 46.1 +1.99% 46.7 +1.08%
2018 45.7 +1.56% 45.2 +5.12% 46.2 0%
2017 45 - 43 - 46.2 -

The median age of Gates 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 9 578 -37.74% 527 +16.81% 379 616
10 to 19 736 +14.88% 824 -30.58% 820 595
20 to 29 673 -24.97% 616 -19.98% 507 469
30 to 39 604 -19.3% 544 +14.16% 489 604
40 to 49 720 -10.68% 837 -18.73% 631 689
50 to 59 1,049 -26.27% 996 -16.97% 791 834
60 to 69 658 +36.69% 761 +25.19% 925 958
70+ 644 -9.6% 834 -17.59% 582 695

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Gates County, North Carolina is $51,599.00.

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 Gates County.

  • Under 25
    $0.00
  • 25 to 44
    $70,142.00
  • 45 to 64
    $57,037.00
  • 65 and over
    $33,478.00

Average Household Income

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

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Gates 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 Gates County, North Carolina is currently $64,013.00.

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.

1.86% of households in Gates 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 Gates County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    22.86%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    26.48%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    17.40%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    14.74%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    12.90%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    3.77%
  • $200,000 or more
    1.86%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Gates County is $26,443.00.

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

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Gates 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 Gates 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
    7.02%
  • Bachelor's degree
    12.35%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    15.27%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    62.73%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.63%

Employment

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

The total population of Gates County over the age of 16 is 8,622.

Of those people, a total of 57.80% 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 Gates County is 52.10%.

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 448 41.50% 14.50%
20 to 24 years 455 71.60% 15.60%
25 to 29 years 521 78.90% 38.40%
30 to 34 years 543 65.90% 12.00%
35 to 44 years 1,088 92.00% 15.10%
45 to 54 years 1,531 81.50% 2.20%
55 to 59 years 876 64.50% 0.00%
60 to 64 years 963 54.70% 5.10%
65 to 74 years 1,352 22.60% 0.00%
75 years and over 845 6.40% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Gates 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 5,401 62.40% 6.50%
Black or African American 2,725 45.80% 20.30%
American Indian and Alaska Native 111 45.90% 0.00%
Asian 68 100.00% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 50 94.00% 0.00%
Two or more races 267 73.00% 5.60%
Hispanic or Latino 184 83.20% 0.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 5,380 62.50% 6.50%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Gates 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 Gates County is 4,495, with median earnings of $38,161.00.

Women in Gates County, North Carolina earning approximately 59.50% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 4,495 $38,161.00
Male 2,252 $51,118.00
Female 2,243 $30,438.00

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 361 $54,215.00
Business and Financial 72 $42,273.00
Computer and Mathematical 92 $177,553.00
Architecture and Engineering 29 $205,083.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 13 $0.00
Community and Social Service 57 $38,194.00
Legal 2 $0.00
Educational and Library 305 $31,250.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 0 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 192 $54,792.00
Healthcare Support 213 $42,645.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 119 $20,811.00
Law Enforcement 54 $42,750.00
Food Preparation and Serving 219 $25,273.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 247 $23,136.00
Personal Care and Service 61 $90,625.00
Sales 505 $30,913.00
Office and Administrative Support 510 $35,795.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 79 $77,899.00
Construction and Extraction 300 $24,516.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 404 $50,625.00
Production 343 $37,679.00
Transportation and Material Moving 206 $40,351.00

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 159 $73,125.00 202 $47,000.00
Business and Financial 21 $83,173.00 51 $41,080.00
Computer and Mathematical 79 $177,899.00 13 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 29 $205,083.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 10 $0.00 3 $0.00
Community and Social Service 13 $0.00 44 $33,571.00
Legal 2 $0.00 0 $0.00
Educational and Library 16 $44,722.00 289 $30,298.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 14 $0.00 178 $54,306.00
Healthcare Support 0 $0.00 213 $42,645.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 21 $0.00 98 $0.00
Law Enforcement 46 $43,750.00 8 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 60 $25,156.00 159 $30,072.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 113 $23,925.00 134 $21,477.00
Personal Care and Service 0 $0.00 61 $90,625.00
Sales 237 $62,014.00 268 $28,255.00
Office and Administrative Support 82 $52,250.00 428 $35,038.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 68 $78,191.00 11 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 300 $24,516.00 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 404 $50,625.00 0 $0.00
Production 285 $43,828.00 58 $9,226.00
Transportation and Material Moving 188 $40,746.00 18 $0.00

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 4,139 households in Gates County, with an average household size of 2.55 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 2,660 families in Gates County with an average family size of 3.17 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 2,102 150 408 1,479
Average Household Size 3.21 4.14 3.43 1.2
Total Families 2,102 150 408 0
Average Household Size 3.1 4.05 3.23 0

Poverty

Of the 2,660 families in Gates County, 10.40% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Gates 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 4,816 housing units in Gates County, North Carolina.

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

Total Percentage
Occupied 4,139 85.94%
Vacant 677 14.06%

11.00% of the total 4,816 housing units in Gates County are rental units. This is approximately 530 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 3,318 are occupied by the owner - or 68.90% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Gates County is $991.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Gates 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
    291
  • Less than $500
    19
  • $500 to $999
    249
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    262
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    0
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    0
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Gates County is $146,600.00.

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

  • Less than $50,000
    424
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    470
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    816
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    662
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    694
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    166
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    50
  • $1,000,000 or more
    36

Property Age

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

  • 1939 or earlier
    432
  • 1940 to 1949
    233
  • 1950 to 1959
    255
  • 1960 to 1969
    307
  • 1970 to 1979
    506
  • 1980 to 1989
    654
  • 1990 to 1999
    1,245
  • 2000 to 2009
    889
  • 2010 to 2013
    283
  • 2014 or later
    12

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 Gates County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    199
  • 1 vehicle available
    900
  • 2 vehicles available
    1,589
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    1,451

Commuting to Work

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

39.3 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Gates 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
    59
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    210
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    277
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    426
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    344
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    225
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    598
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    237
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    160
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    521
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    847
  • 90 or more minutes
    327

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Gates 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 Gates County, North Carolina

We have data for 8 places in Gates County, North Carolina. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.