North Carolina State: Population, Rankings, and Facts

#23 in Overall Ranking out of 50 in 2021

North Carolina, popularly called the Old Northern State, was one of the original 13 colonies of the United States. Today, it is a key tourist destination, welcoming over 50 million visitors every year. The capital of North Carolina is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte. Despite being the 28th biggest province in the country, it holds about 10 million residents.

Updated: April 20, 2021
  • Area
    53,819 SQ. MI.
  • Capital
    Raleigh
  • Population
    10,488,084
  • Income
    $52,752
  • Home Value
    $225,740
  • Crime
    38,995
  • Unemployment
    6.1%
  • Education
    29.9%
  • Medicine
    31
  • Poverty
    13.7%
  • Environment
    107
  • Infrastructure
    3.3%

With a population of over 10 million, North Carolina stands as the ninth-largest district in the United States. It shares boundaries with the Atlantic ocean, Virginia, and Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina. The North Carolina weather, thriving job climate, and diverse lifestyles make it a great place to live.

In the early days, it was among the 13 colonies in the country. However, on 12th November 1789, it was founded as a full-fledged state. Tar Heel has a strong political history. It contributes fifteen electoral college votes. Plus, it has a track record of voting Democrat governors and Republican presidents.

Like the state’s flag, its physical geography is divided into three. Its Coastal Plain is filled with beautiful beaches and vast marshlands. Next is Piedmont, a plateau that stretches from Alabama to New York. The Appalachian Mountains is the third part. Its landscape has various hills and heights with beautiful views. Tourists and hikers say the metropolis is fascinating.

The district is a major manufacturing hub in the country. For a large part of its history, it focused on three producing timbre, textiles and tobacco. These big-three sub-sectors soon became its primary source of employment and revenue.

Today, its economy is more versatile. It is now a key manufacturer of several other products. They include vehicle parts, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and chemicals. The commerce, health, food processing, and hospitality industries have also become key drivers of its economy. The manufacturing sector generates over $100 billion in revenue and 38% of total employment.

How We Figured Out Which Were the Best States To Live In

The information here is from several reputation sources and compiled into one piece. Some of them are the United States’ Department of Revenue and Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, and the National Bureau of Economics, among others. Upon collating the data, the next thing was to sort out the facts and key metrics. These indicators were then used to decide the best states in the USA to reside in 2021.

North Carolina Rankings

  • Population
    #9
    Population
    Data: 10,488,084

    The population density data shows the number of people in an area. A high figure indicates excellent living standards and a better quality of life. For NC, an average of 215.7 people live per square mile across its region. That makes it the 9th highest in the country, behind California, Texas, and New York.

  • Median Income
    #12
    Income in $
    Data: $52,752

    This information exposes how rich the region is. Teer Heel has 4.96% millionaire households. It contains ample opportunities in the health, pharmaceutical, food technology, and retail industries. Plus, the housing, transportation, groceries, healthcare, and tax are all below the national average. That makes it a top destination for growing families, young professionals, retirees in 2021.

  • Home Value
    #28
    Home Value
    Data: $225,740

    A majority of buildings in NC were built between the 70s and 90s. Altogether, the region has an eclectic mix of structures, including bungalows, modern, and contemporary designs. Of all the houses there, about 37% are rented and 63% privately owned. The average rent is $1,131 per month.

  • Unemployment Rate
    #28
    Unemployment
    Data: 6.1%

    The North Carolina unemployment rate is one of the highest in the country. Similar values are experienced in Delaware, Oregon, and Washington. Adding to the low job creation index, employers commonly discharge workers without prior notice. Also, the economic challenges posed by the pandemic aggravated the situation.

  • Poverty
    #36
    Poverty
    Data: 13.7%

    Of the total North Carolina population, 1.4 million people live in poverty. Analyzing this metric by race showed that 10.20% of the entire poor populace are whites and 22.49%, blacks. About 14.67% of high school graduates have low income, showing the relationship between education and wealth.

  • Education
    #25
    Education
    Data: 29.9%

    Only 29.9% of the entire census count has a bachelor's degree. Duke University is among the top 25 in the country. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the closest in line, standing at number 28 on the list. Some other popular schools are Elon, West Forest, and North Carolina state university.

  • Medicine
    #25
    Medicine
    Health Outcomes: 31

    The health care system scored three out of five, which is average.. Despite having a similar population density with Michigan and Ohio, North Carolina State has a relatively high number of uninsured residents. The prevalent illnesses in NC are cancer, heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, and flu. The infant mortality rate is 7.2%. However, this data shows an improvement in past years.

  • Crime Rate
    #30
    Crime
    Violent Crime: 38,995

    This is the 21th most criminal region in the country. The counties Holly Springs, Cary, and Cornelius, are its calmest districts. On the other hand, Greensboro, Whiteville, Henderson, and Kinston are the most criminal areas. The most rampant crimes in NC are property-related, with 247,236 cases. Larceny offenses follow next with 174,728 reported incidence. Cases like burglary (54,447) and vehicle thefts (18,061) are also common.

  • Natural Environment
    #44
    Environment
    Air: 107

    For this set of data, a higher figure connotes high pollution in the area. The former colony suffers greatly from water and air pollution. There is also a dangerous level of contamination with pesticides and solid wastes. With a total score of 2/5, Tar Heel sits in position 44 out of 50.

  • Infrastructure
    #28
    Infrastructure
    Poor Roads: 3.3%

    The nature of public infrastructure in an area impacts the overall quality of life. It directly affects accident rates and travel time. NC ranks below average in the list of regions with sound transportation channels. It records over 200,00 road accidents annually. Such unfortunate events often result in death. Highway crashes have now become one of the highest causes of death in the province.

North Carolina Facts

  • The official state flower is flowering Dogwood.
  • The Cardinal (family Cardinalidae) is the NC state bird.
  • It has two nicknames, namely the Tar Heel and the Old North State.
  • The province uses the motto “Esse Quam Videri,” which means “To be, rather than to seem.”
  • Statewide, the sales tax rate is 4.75%, and the property tax is 0.85%.
  • There are about 1080 NC zip codes and 8 area codes, each unique to an area in its territory.
  • The state has an official web page. From there, individuals can contact various departments and agencies.
  • The contact address of the governor’s office is 20301 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC.
  • James Goodnight is the wealthiest man in the region and among the top 100 in the U.S. with $9.3 billion. He resides in Cary, Wake county.
  • The GDP of the province is 508.63 billion U.S. dollars.
  • The government is the state’s largest employer, with approximately 130,000 employees.
  • NC recognizes only two of the four common-law claims for invasion of privacy: appropriating of one’s likeness and intrusion upon seclusion.

North Carolina State in Photos

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FAQ Section

  • Where Is North Carolina?

    NC is located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is positioned along the Atlantic coast between Florida and New York. Its neighboring provinces are Virginia to the north and Tennessee to the west. Plus, South Carolina and Georgia share their southern boundary.

  • What Time Zone Is North Carolina?

    NC uses the Eastern Standard Time, which is five hours behind GMT, and three behind Washington. Other regions like Ohio, Georgia, New York, and Massachusetts also use the EST timing.

  • How Many Counties Are in North Carolina?

    There are 100 NC counties. Some of the most popular ones are Mecklenburg, Wake County, Dare, Guilford, New Hannover, etc. The largest by size is Robeson. It has a surface area of 3,473 km² with a census count of 134,913 people.

  • What Is Minimum Wage in North Carolina?

    The base pay is $7.25 per hour. A full-time minimum wage worker will earn $15,080 per year. An average-paid will get $26 hourly. Those at the top of the ladder earn as much as $72,400 annual salary.

  • What Is Tar Heel Known For?

    The Tar Heel region is famous for its tourist attraction. It has remarkable rolling mountains, coastal beaches, a calm atmosphere, and beautiful landscapes.

    Added to that, the achievement of the Wright brothers extends its fame. In the lowly grounds of Kitty Hawk, they flew an aircraft for the first time in history.

    The former colony also houses Biltmore Estate — the United States’ largest private residence. Several other NC state parks, national historic sites, and colleges cap the list of its famous places.

  • What To Do in NC?

    There is a long list of things to do here in 2021. First, individuals can tour several tourist sites. Some of the popular places are the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Blue Ridge Parkway, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, etc.

    More, people can go camping or hiking in the mountains. Cities like Asheville, Brevard, and Outer Banks are nice places to retire. With their numerous bars, waterfalls, beaches, and friendly locals, relaxation is guaranteed.