Data / Rankings / Housing units / Counties in North Carolina

Counties in North Carolina by housing units

Mecklenburg County had the highest housing units of 100 counties in 2023, at 491,721. Tyrrell County had the lowest, at 2,004. The median was 26,253 and the figure for North Carolina was 4.82 million. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest491,721Mecklenburg County
Lowest2,004Tyrrell County
Median26,253100 counties
North Carolina4,815,195History

Map of counties, 2023

Alamance County: 75,456 countAlexander County: 16,126 countAlleghany County: 7,752 countAnson County: 9,932 countAshe County: 17,111 countAvery County: 14,051 countBeaufort County: 24,385 countBertie County: 8,988 countBladen County: 15,272 countBrunswick County: 93,977 countBuncombe County: 132,191 countBurke County: 40,058 countCabarrus County: 91,339 countCaldwell County: 37,231 countCamden County: 4,226 countCarteret County: 51,615 countCaswell County: 10,490 countCatawba County: 72,028 countChatham County: 35,013 countCherokee County: 18,182 countChowan County: 7,169 countClay County: 7,410 countCleveland County: 43,999 countColumbus County: 23,560 countCraven County: 47,404 countCumberland County: 143,184 countCurrituck County: 16,636 countDare County: 34,839 countDavidson County: 75,615 countDavie County: 19,079 countDuplin County: 23,823 countDurham County: 149,150 countEdgecombe County: 23,258 countForsyth County: 173,220 countFranklin County: 30,790 countGaston County: 100,109 countGates County: 4,809 countGraham County: 5,244 countGranville County: 24,582 countGreene County: 7,909 countGuilford County: 235,833 countHalifax County: 24,849 countHarnett County: 54,051 countHaywood County: 35,307 countHenderson County: 57,338 countHertford County: 9,831 countHoke County: 20,583 countHyde County: 3,168 countIredell County: 81,785 countJackson County: 27,385 countJohnston County: 88,314 countJones County: 4,675 countLee County: 26,854 countLenoir County: 26,767 countLincoln County: 38,589 countMcDowell County: 21,475 countMacon County: 27,070 countMadison County: 11,201 countMartin County: 11,100 countMecklenburg County: 491,721 countMitchell County: 8,673 countMontgomery County: 14,930 countMoore County: 49,419 countNash County: 43,537 countNew Hanover County: 117,236 countNorthampton County: 10,620 countOnslow County: 85,917 countOrange County: 62,127 countPamlico County: 7,239 countPasquotank County: 17,565 countPender County: 31,007 countPerquimans County: 6,918 countPerson County: 18,482 countPitt County: 81,656 countPolk County: 10,949 countRandolph County: 62,544 countRichmond County: 19,840 countRobeson County: 48,874 countRockingham County: 43,685 countRowan County: 64,263 countRutherford County: 32,682 countSampson County: 25,739 countScotland County: 14,421 countStanly County: 28,292 countStokes County: 21,353 countSurry County: 33,609 countSwain County: 8,529 countTransylvania County: 19,147 countTyrrell County: 2,004 countUnion County: 86,730 countVance County: 19,423 countWake County: 481,999 countWarren County: 11,543 countWashington County: 6,045 countWatauga County: 33,028 countWayne County: 53,134 countWilkes County: 31,744 countWilson County: 36,702 countYadkin County: 17,165 countYancey County: 11,317 count
  • Under 10K
  • 10K to 18K
  • 18K to 26K
  • 26K to 39K
  • 39K to 76K
  • 76K and over
count, 2023. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25001: total housing units. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2023

Mecklenburg County: 491,721 countMecklenburg County491,721Wake County: 481,999 countWake County481,999Guilford County: 235,833 countGuilford County235,833Forsyth County: 173,220 countForsyth County173,220Durham County: 149,150 countDurham County149,150Cumberland County: 143,184 countCumberland County143,184Buncombe County: 132,191 countBuncombe County132,191New Hanover County: 117,236 countNew Hanover County117,236Gaston County: 100,109 countGaston County100,109Brunswick County: 93,977 countBrunswick County93,977Cabarrus County: 91,339 countCabarrus County91,339Johnston County: 88,314 countJohnston County88,314Union County: 86,730 countUnion County86,730Onslow County: 85,917 countOnslow County85,917Iredell County: 81,785 countIredell County81,785Pitt County: 81,656 countPitt County81,656Davidson County: 75,615 countDavidson County75,615Alamance County: 75,456 countAlamance County75,456Catawba County: 72,028 countCatawba County72,028Rowan County: 64,263 countRowan County64,263Randolph County: 62,544 countRandolph County62,544Orange County: 62,127 countOrange County62,127Henderson County: 57,338 countHenderson County57,338Harnett County: 54,051 countHarnett County54,051Wayne County: 53,134 countWayne County53,134Carteret County: 51,615 countCarteret County51,615Moore County: 49,419 countMoore County49,419Robeson County: 48,874 countRobeson County48,874Craven County: 47,404 countCraven County47,404Cleveland County: 43,999 countCleveland County43,999Rockingham County: 43,685 countRockingham County43,685Nash County: 43,537 countNash County43,537Burke County: 40,058 countBurke County40,058Lincoln County: 38,589 countLincoln County38,589Caldwell County: 37,231 countCaldwell County37,231Wilson County: 36,702 countWilson County36,702Haywood County: 35,307 countHaywood County35,307Chatham County: 35,013 countChatham County35,013Dare County: 34,839 countDare County34,839Surry County: 33,609 countSurry County33,609Mecklenburg County: 491,721 countMecklenburg County491,721Wake County: 481,999 countWake County481,999Guilford County: 235,833 countGuilford County235,833Forsyth County: 173,220 countForsyth County173,220Durham County: 149,150 countDurham County149,150Cumberland County: 143,184 countCumberland County143,184Buncombe County: 132,191 countBuncombe County132,191New Hanover County: 117,236 countNew Hanover County117,236Gaston County: 100,109 countGaston County100,109Brunswick County: 93,977 countBrunswick County93,977Cabarrus County: 91,339 countCabarrus County91,339Johnston County: 88,314 countJohnston County88,314Union County: 86,730 countUnion County86,730Onslow County: 85,917 countOnslow County85,917Iredell County: 81,785 countIredell County81,785Pitt County: 81,656 countPitt County81,656Davidson County: 75,615 countDavidson County75,615Alamance County: 75,456 countAlamance County75,456Catawba County: 72,028 countCatawba County72,028Rowan County: 64,263 countRowan County64,263Randolph County: 62,544 countRandolph County62,544Orange County: 62,127 countOrange County62,127Henderson County: 57,338 countHenderson County57,338Harnett County: 54,051 countHarnett County54,051Wayne County: 53,134 countWayne County53,134Carteret County: 51,615 countCarteret County51,615Moore County: 49,419 countMoore County49,419Robeson County: 48,874 countRobeson County48,874Craven County: 47,404 countCraven County47,404Cleveland County: 43,999 countCleveland County43,999Rockingham County: 43,685 countRockingham County43,685Nash County: 43,537 countNash County43,537Burke County: 40,058 countBurke County40,058Lincoln County: 38,589 countLincoln County38,589Caldwell County: 37,231 countCaldwell County37,231Wilson County: 36,702 countWilson County36,702Haywood County: 35,307 countHaywood County35,307Chatham County: 35,013 countChatham County35,013Dare County: 34,839 countDare County34,839Surry County: 33,609 countSurry County33,609
count. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25001: total housing units. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2023
count		Change on 2022
1Mecklenburg County491,721+2.2%
2Wake County481,999+3.3%
3Guilford County235,833+1.1%
4Forsyth County173,220+1.3%
5Durham County149,150+2.5%
6Cumberland County143,184+0.3%
7Buncombe County132,191+1.6%
8New Hanover County117,236+2.3%
9Gaston County100,109+1.5%
10Brunswick County93,977+3.9%
11Cabarrus County91,339+3.8%
12Johnston County88,314+3.6%
13Union County86,730+2.3%
14Onslow County85,917+1.6%
15Iredell County81,785+2.4%
16Pitt County81,656+1.1%
17Davidson County75,615+0.9%
18Alamance County75,456+1.9%
19Catawba County72,028+1.4%
20Rowan County64,263+1.2%
21Randolph County62,544+0.5%
22Orange County62,127+1.5%
23Henderson County57,338+1%
24Harnett County54,051+1.5%
25Wayne County53,134+0.5%
26Carteret County51,615+1%
27Moore County49,419+1.7%
28Robeson County48,874+0.1%
29Craven County47,404+0.8%
30Cleveland County43,999+0.5%
31Rockingham County43,685+0.2%
32Nash County43,537+0.5%
33Burke County40,058+0.7%
34Lincoln County38,589+2.3%
35Caldwell County37,231+0.3%
36Wilson County36,702+0.7%
37Haywood County35,307+0.7%
38Chatham County35,013+2.4%
39Dare County34,839+1%
40Surry County33,609+0.2%
41Watauga County33,028+0.7%
42Rutherford County32,682+0.1%
43Wilkes County31,7440%
44Pender County31,007+2.4%
45Franklin County30,790+3.4%
46Stanly County28,292+1.8%
47Jackson County27,385+1.6%
48Macon County27,070+0.5%
49Lee County26,854+1.1%
50Lenoir County26,767+0.3%
51Sampson County25,739+0.2%
52Halifax County24,8490%
53Granville County24,582+1%
54Beaufort County24,385+0.4%
55Duplin County23,823-0.2%
56Columbus County23,560-0.3%
57Edgecombe County23,258+0.1%
58McDowell County21,475+0.7%
59Stokes County21,353+0.3%
60Hoke County20,583+1.3%
61Richmond County19,840+0.4%
62Vance County19,423+0.2%
63Transylvania County19,147+0.4%
64Davie County19,079+1.2%
65Person County18,482+0.6%
66Cherokee County18,182+1%
67Pasquotank County17,565+0.7%
68Yadkin County17,165+0.6%
69Ashe County17,111+0.5%
70Currituck County16,636+2.6%
71Alexander County16,126+0.6%
72Bladen County15,272-0.5%
73Montgomery County14,9300%
74Scotland County14,421-0%
75Avery County14,051+1%
76Warren County11,543+0.9%
77Yancey County11,317+0.5%
78Madison County11,201+1%
79Martin County11,100-0.1%
80Polk County10,949+0.6%
81Northampton County10,620-0.3%
82Caswell County10,490-0%
83Anson County9,932-0.3%
84Hertford County9,831-0.3%
85Bertie County8,988-0.2%
86Mitchell County8,673+0.1%
87Swain County8,529+0.9%
88Greene County7,909+0.3%
89Alleghany County7,752+0.3%
90Clay County7,410+1.2%
91Pamlico County7,239+0.5%
92Chowan County7,169+0.1%
93Perquimans County6,918+0.2%
94Washington County6,045-0.3%
95Graham County5,244-0.5%
96Gates County4,809-0.2%
97Jones County4,675+0.1%
98Camden County4,226+1.3%
99Hyde County3,168+7.8%
100Tyrrell County2,004+8.6%

Other periods

About this ranking

All housing units, occupied and vacant: houses, apartments, mobile homes and rooms intended as separate living quarters. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

A survey estimate averaged over five years, not a count on one date.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25001: total housing units. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b25001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25001: total housing units (Counties in North Carolina by housing units, 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b25001.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25001: total housing units, Counties in North Carolina by housing units, 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b25001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/housing-units/north-carolina-counties?period=2023. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25001: total housing units. Counties in North Carolina by housing units, 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b25001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/housing-units/north-carolina-counties?period=2023.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25001: total housing units, Counties in North Carolina by housing units, 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b25001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/housing-units/north-carolina-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_north_carolina_2023,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25001: total housing units: Counties in North Carolina by housing units, 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b25001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/housing-units/north-carolina-counties?period=2023. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25001: total housing units. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b25001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25001: total housing units: Counties in North Carolina by housing units, 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b25001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/housing-units/north-carolina-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/housing-units/north-carolina-counties?period=2023.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25001: total housing units. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b25001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest housing units?

Mecklenburg County, with 491,721 in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest housing units?

Tyrrell County, with 2,004 in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25001: total housing units. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Housing units: other rankings

Counties in North Carolina: more rankings