North Carolina household income — percentiles + top 1%.
North Carolina’s median household income is $67,112 (−$16,480 vs the national median of $83,592), ranking #43 of 51 jurisdictions. The top 1% threshold (p99) in North Carolina is $555,880 — a lower-income state where even the top 1% threshold sits well below the wealthiest coastal states (often $400k-$500k vs $900k+ in CT/NJ).
North Carolina household income percentiles
| Percentile | North Carolina household income | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| p10 | $12,846 | Bottom 10% (federal assistance threshold) |
| p25 | $35,000 | Bottom quartile |
| p50 | $67,112 | Median household |
| p75 | $127,721 | Top quartile |
| p90 | $201,545 | Top 10% |
| p95 | $269,417 | Top 5% |
| p99 | $555,880 | Top 1% |
For interactive percentile lookup (enter your household income, get exact percentile), open the North Carolina income percentile calculator →
North Carolina median household income by age
| Age cohort | Median household income |
|---|---|
| Under 25 | $30,508 |
| 25-34 | $56,200 |
| 35-44 | $73,862 |
| 45-54 (peak earning) | $77,877 |
| 55-64 | $70,651 |
| 65+ | $46,565 |
Compare to your age cohort for a peer-relevant ranking — the all-ages median can be misleading if you’re early-career or retired.
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina ranks #43 of 51 jurisdictions for median household income. The spread between p10 ($12,846) and p99 ($555,880) is $543,034 — a 43.3× ratio, indicating wide income dispersion. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive income percentile map.
North Carolina metros by household income
State median hides metro variation. Charlotte and the smaller North Carolina metros often differ by 30-50%. Click any city to compare cost-of-living against income.
- Charlottemedian $68,600 · pop 2.8MCOL 104 →
- Raleighmedian $75,200 · pop 1.5MCOL 105 →
- Durhammedian $66,800 · pop 0.3MCOL 104 →
- Greensboromedian $55,800 · pop 0.8MCOL 88 →
- Winston-Salemmedian $52,600 · pop 0.7MCOL 88 →
- Fayettevillemedian $49,800 · pop 0.5MCOL 84 →
- Ashevillemedian $55,200 · pop 0.5MCOL 106 →
- High Pointmedian $46,800 · pop 0.1MCOL 85 →
- Wilmingtonmedian $52,800 · pop 0.3MCOL 100 →
More North Carolina metros coming as we expand city coverage.
North Carolina household income — common questions
What is the median household income in North Carolina in 2024?
North Carolina's median household income is approximately $67,112 (Census CPS 2024 income year). That's −$16,480 vs the national median of $83,592.
What income puts you in the top 1% in North Carolina?
The top 1% threshold (p99) in North Carolina is approximately $555,880 of household income. The top 5% threshold is $269,417; top 10% is $201,545.
What is considered low income in North Carolina?
Households below the 25th percentile (under $35,000/yr) are typically considered low-income in North Carolina; households below the 10th percentile (under $12,846) qualify for most federal + state assistance programs.
Are there any North Carolina-specific income distribution quirks?
NC Research Triangle (Wake/Durham/Orange counties) median household income ~$95k+ rivals Bay Area suburbs; eastern NC and Appalachian western counties remain among the lowest-income in the South.
For interactive percentile lookup (enter your household income, see exactly where you rank in North Carolina + nationally), open the full North Carolina income percentile guide →
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · Source: US Census CPS; state-level deeper percentiles via DQYDJ. Last verified 2026-04-19.