Mount Airy, Surry County, North Carolina Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Mount Airy, 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 Mount Airy, North Carolina. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Mount Airy, North Carolina. The estimated population of Mount Airy, North Carolina is 10,547 people, with a median age of 45.4.

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

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
10,547
+3.27%
+3.42%
2020
10,213
+0.2%
-
2019
10,193
-0.33% -
2018
10,227
+0.28%
-
2017
10,198
- -

Population of Mount Airy, 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
77.5%
79.9%
-3.00%
Black/African American
11.2%
8.2%
+36.59%
Native
0.3%
0.8%
-62.50%
Hispanic
8%
9.6%
-16.67%
Asian
1.8%
0.3%
+500.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
0.00%
Two Or More Races
1.2%
1%
+20.00%
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 Mount Airy, 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 45.4 -6.2% 42.3 +3.42% 49.3 -1.2%
2020 48.4 +1.04% 40.9 -5.98% 49.9 -1.77%
2019 47.9 +3.9% 43.5 +0.23% 50.8 +3.67%
2018 46.1 -0.43% 43.4 -1.14% 49 +2.94%
2017 46.3 - 43.9 - 47.6 -

The median age of Mount Airy, 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 9 529 +29.23% 592 -3.28% 697 559
10 to 19 510 +5.58% 674 -30.19% 535 481
20 to 29 526 +12.59% 426 +26.47% 578 542
30 to 39 585 -12.08% 644 +14.37% 509 728
40 to 49 412 +30.49% 663 -16.31% 550 534
50 to 59 619 +21.83% 708 -29.71% 756 499
60 to 69 706 +24.67% 858 -11.21% 880 757
70+ 606 +10.44% 1,140 +12.46% 663 1,279

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Mount Airy, North Carolina is $33,773.00.

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 Mount Airy.

  • Under 25
    $24,207.00
  • 25 to 44
    $49,023.00
  • 45 to 64
    $35,951.00
  • 65 and over
    $29,545.00

Average Household Income

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

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Mount Airy, 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 Mount Airy, North Carolina is currently $58,320.00.

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.

3.02% of households in Mount Airy 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 Mount Airy against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    37.06%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    26.82%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    11.87%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    6.97%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    12.43%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    1.84%
  • $200,000 or more
    3.02%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Mount Airy is $29,307.00.

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

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Mount Airy, 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 Mount Airy 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
    15.24%
  • Bachelor's degree
    25.19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    23.77%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    33.52%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.29%

Employment

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

The total population of Mount Airy over the age of 16 is 8,530.

Of those people, a total of 50.10% 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 Mount Airy is 46.60%.

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 255 15.30% 76.90%
20 to 24 years 524 59.70% 9.60%
25 to 29 years 596 61.60% 11.40%
30 to 34 years 685 92.10% 7.40%
35 to 44 years 1,174 78.20% 3.10%
45 to 54 years 1,163 72.80% 1.30%
55 to 59 years 554 67.00% 25.90%
60 to 64 years 817 54.70% 4.30%
65 to 74 years 1,299 24.30% 0.00%
75 years and over 1,463 1.90% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Mount Airy. 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 7,096 52.30% 7.20%
Black or African American 1,023 36.00% 5.40%
American Indian and Alaska Native 31 0.00% 0.00%
Asian 95 40.00% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 3 100.00% 0.00%
Other 134 78.40% 0.00%
Two or more races 148 37.20% 30.90%
Hispanic or Latino 569 65.40% 13.70%
Not Hispanic or Latino 6,715 52.00% 6.20%

Occupations

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

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Mount Airy is 3,974, with median earnings of $32,281.00.

Women in Mount Airy, North Carolina earning approximately 76.70% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 3,974 $32,281.00
Male 2,153 $37,652.00
Female 1,821 $28,873.00

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 468 $72,656.00
Business and Financial 99 $45,972.00
Computer and Mathematical 143 $31,776.00
Architecture and Engineering 18 $31,250.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 43 $0.00
Community and Social Service 137 $49,375.00
Legal 10 $0.00
Educational and Library 450 $34,063.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 70 $23,750.00
Healthcare Practitioners 290 $65,227.00
Healthcare Support 84 $21,154.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 8 $0.00
Law Enforcement 50 $42,857.00
Food Preparation and Serving 128 $15,877.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 151 $23,021.00
Personal Care and Service 84 $26,250.00
Sales 348 $16,764.00
Office and Administrative Support 363 $34,101.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 45 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 129 $20,737.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 59 $37,150.00
Production 381 $51,125.00
Transportation and Material Moving 54 $23,690.00

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 278 $62,667.00 190 $90,288.00
Business and Financial 32 $111,250.00 67 $34,632.00
Computer and Mathematical 143 $31,776.00 0 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 18 $31,250.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 43 $0.00 0 $0.00
Community and Social Service 38 $68,750.00 99 $48,750.00
Legal 10 $0.00 0 $0.00
Educational and Library 111 $53,319.00 339 $24,750.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 36 $8,214.00 34 $27,813.00
Healthcare Practitioners 132 $78,333.00 158 $56,667.00
Healthcare Support 36 $0.00 48 $31,250.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 8 $0.00 0 $0.00
Law Enforcement 35 $44,196.00 15 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 16 $0.00 112 $16,228.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 120 $42,548.00 31 $0.00
Personal Care and Service 27 $0.00 57 $28,589.00
Sales 120 $44,737.00 228 $16,279.00
Office and Administrative Support 90 $51,346.00 273 $32,654.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 45 $0.00 0 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 129 $20,737.00 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 59 $37,150.00 0 $0.00
Production 287 $72,396.00 94 $25,769.00
Transportation and Material Moving 33 $4,886.00 21 $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 4,795 households in Mount Airy, with an average household size of 2.13 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 2,577 families in Mount Airy with an average family size of 2.9 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 1,626 168 783 2,218
Average Household Size 2.94 3.43 3.13 1.09
Total Families 1,626 168 783 0
Average Household Size 2.93 3.02 2.8 0

Poverty

Of the 2,577 families in Mount Airy, 21.90% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Mount Airy:

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 5,521 housing units in Mount Airy, North Carolina.

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

Total Percentage
Occupied 4,795 86.85%
Vacant 726 13.15%

37.31% of the total 5,521 housing units in Mount Airy are rental units. This is approximately 2,060 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 2,652 are occupied by the owner - or 48.03% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Mount Airy is $632.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Mount Airy 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
    83
  • Less than $500
    619
  • $500 to $999
    1,253
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    160
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    14
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    8
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    6

Property Value

The median value of a property in Mount Airy is $160,100.00.

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

  • Less than $50,000
    111
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    598
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    520
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    400
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    643
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    296
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    54
  • $1,000,000 or more
    30

Property Age

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

  • 1939 or earlier
    1,066
  • 1940 to 1949
    485
  • 1950 to 1959
    661
  • 1960 to 1969
    860
  • 1970 to 1979
    789
  • 1980 to 1989
    628
  • 1990 to 1999
    625
  • 2000 to 2009
    267
  • 2010 to 2013
    140
  • 2014 or later
    0

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 Mount Airy that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    492
  • 1 vehicle available
    2,082
  • 2 vehicles available
    1,233
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    988

Commuting to Work

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

19 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Mount Airy.

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
    286
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    879
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    790
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    656
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    197
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    67
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    228
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    153
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    76
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    221
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    141
  • 90 or more minutes
    74

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Mount Airy, 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.