Counties in North Carolina by median household income (US single-year estimate)
Wake County had the highest median household income (US single-year estimate) of 100 counties in 2021, at $91,558. Robeson County had the lowest, at $38,613. The median was $52,680 and the figure for North Carolina was $61,997. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.
Map of counties, 2021
- Under 44K
- 44K to 48K
- 48K to 53K
- 53K to 57K
- 57K to 67K
- 67K and over
Top 40 counties, 2021
Full ranking
Other periods
About this ranking
Household income at the middle of the distribution for one year, in US dollars of that year. United States: Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) for the nation, states and counties.
A model-based estimate that combines the one-year American Community Survey with federal tax records and other administrative data, so every county gets a figure for a single year. The national figure is the one-year ACS estimate. Not adjusted for inflation between years. The Census Bureau advises comparing years from 2006 on only. For the five-year ACS median, which also covers cities, use median_household_income.
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. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.Citation styles
APA 7
U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties (Counties in North Carolina by median household income (US single-year estimate), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt
MLA 9
Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties, Counties in North Carolina by median household income (US single-year estimate), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/median-household-income-single-year-us/north-carolina-counties?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.
Chicago (author-date)
U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties. Counties in North Carolina by median household income (US single-year estimate), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/median-household-income-single-year-us/north-carolina-counties?period=2021.
Harvard
U.S. Census Bureau (2026) Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties, Counties in North Carolina by median household income (US single-year estimate), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/median-household-income-single-year-us/north-carolina-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_north_carolina_2021,
author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
title = {{Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties: Counties in North Carolina by median household income (US single-year estimate), 2021}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {Data set},
url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt},
urldate = {2026-10-12},
note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/median-household-income-single-year-us/north-carolina-counties?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY - DATA
AU - U.S. Census Bureau
TI - Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties: Counties in North Carolina by median household income (US single-year estimate), 2021
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/01/27
PB - U.S. Census Bureau
DB - Invokely
UR - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt
L2 - https://invokely.ai/rankings/median-household-income-single-year-us/north-carolina-counties?period=2021
Y2 - 2026/10/12
N1 - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/median-household-income-single-year-us/north-carolina-counties?period=2021.
N1 - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER -
Use this data in your AI agent
Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:
Rank Counties in North Carolina by median household income (US single-year estimate) using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"median_household_income_saipe","level":"province","within":"North Carolina","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=median_household_income_saipe&level=province&within=North%20Carolina&limit=10Questions
Which county has the highest median household income (US single-year estimate)?
Wake County, with $91,558 in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Which county has the lowest median household income (US single-year estimate)?
Robeson County, with $38,613 in 2021.
Where does this ranking come from?
Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.