Sampson County, NC Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Sampson County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 61,940 | 10,790,063 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 65.3 | 200.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -1.02% | 0.90% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 38.6 | 37.6 | 37.1 |
| Households | 21,321 | 4,184,344 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Sampson County declined by 6.1% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 59,244 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Sampson County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Sampson County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $52,878 | $69,937 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.42% | 5.43% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 4.7% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Sampson County is about 24% lower than in North Carolina.
Housing
| Metric | Sampson County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $175,132 | $265,624 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $811 | $1,162 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.8% | 66.4% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Sampson County is about 18.0 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $811 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Sampson County spend about 48 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 199 hours, about 8.3 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Sampson County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 23.8 | 21.8 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 47.7 | 43.6 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 199 | 182 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $6,155 | $5,630 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 14.5% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 5,218 | 8,330 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 847 | 1,609 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
North Carolina:
Macon County (17.1 min), Dare County (17.2 min), Graham County (17.2 min).
Slowest:
Gates County (36.3 min), Currituck County (33.6 min), Franklin County (32.4 min).
The average commute time in Sampson County is 24 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in North Carolina.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Sampson County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Sampson County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 31.1% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.72 | 2.46 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
North Carolina:
Orange County (0.5), Wake County (0.4), Durham County (0.4).
Lowest:
Hyde County (0.2), Greene County (0.2), Tyrrell County (0.2).
Health
Sampson County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Sampson County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 75.7 | 77.1 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 19.7% | 16.8% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 22.9% | 20.7% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
North Carolina:
Orange County (0.8), Wake County (0.8), Watauga County (0.8).
Lowest:
Robeson County (0.8), Lenoir County (0.8), Halifax County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Sampson County, North Carolina.
What is the population of Sampson County, North Carolina?
The population of Sampson County, North Carolina is 61,940, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Sampson County, North Carolina?
The population density of Sampson County, North Carolina is 65.3 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Sampson County, North Carolina?
The median household income in Sampson County, North Carolina is $52,878, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Sampson County, North Carolina?
The median home price in Sampson County, North Carolina is $175,132, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Sampson County, North Carolina?
The unemployment rate in Sampson County, North Carolina is 5.2%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.