Salisbury, NC

Census Place

2024 Population

35,825

US Senator

Thom Tillis

Republican Party

US Senator

Ted Budd

Republican Party

2024 Poverty Rate

26.3%

8.51% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$53,716

5.21% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$242,500

12.7% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

14,936

Population & Diversity

Salisbury, NC is home to a population of 35.8k people, from which 95.2% are citizens.

As of 2024, 6.38% of Salisbury, NC residents were born outside of the country (2.29k people).

In 2024, there were 1.4 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (17.6k people) in Salisbury, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 12.5k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 1.47k Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

95.2%

2024 Citizenship

95.1%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 95.2% of Salisbury, NC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Salisbury, NC was 95.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Salisbury, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Salisbury, NC

White (Non-Hispanic)
17.6k ± 1.23k
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
12.5k ± 890
Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
1.47k ± 539

11.5%

Hispanic Population

4.11k people

11.5% of the people in Salisbury, NC are hispanic (4.11k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Salisbury, NC as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for North Carolina.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
228,441 ± 11,609 people
India
90,815 ± 7,367 people
Honduras
52,061 ± 5,588 people

In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of North Carolina was Mexico, the natal country of 228,441 North Carolina residents, followed by India with 90,815 and Honduras with 52,061.

Foreign-Born Population

6.38%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

2.29k people

6.35%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

2.27k people

As of 2024, 6.38% of Salisbury, NC residents (2.29k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Salisbury, NC was 6.35%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Salisbury, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
553 ± 165
Gulf War (2001-)
471 ± 169
Gulf War (1990s)
266 ± 124

Salisbury, NC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.17 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Salisbury, NC.

Economy

The economy of Salisbury, NC employs 14.9k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Salisbury, NC were Health Care & Social Assistance (2,642 people), Manufacturing (1,856 people), and Retail Trade (1,657 people), and the highest paying industries were Information ($133,966), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($73,955), and Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($72,716).

Employment

Occupations

14.9k

2024 Value

± 1,197

−0.433%

1 Year decline

± 11%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Salisbury, NC declined at a rate of −0.433%, from 15k employees to 14.9k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Salisbury, NC, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,449 people), Sales & Related Occupations (1,425 people), and Production Occupations (1,401 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Salisbury, NC.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in North Carolina (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

14.9k

2024 Value

± 1,197

−0.433%

1 Year decline

± 11%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Salisbury, NC declined at a rate of −0.433%, from 15k employees to 14.9k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Salisbury, NC, are Health Care & Social Assistance (2,642 people), Manufacturing (1,856 people), and Retail Trade (1,657 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Salisbury, NC, though some of these residents may live in Salisbury, NC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$50,381

Median earning men ± $4,909

$33,358

Median earning women ± $4,967

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Information ($134,399), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($90,104), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($66,754).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($83,529), Public Administration ($58,720), and Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($56,481).

Education

The student population of Salisbury, NC in 2024 is skewed towards women, with 3,969 male students and 5,486 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Salisbury, NC are White (1,225 and 56.5%), Black or African American (445 and 20.5%), Hispanic or Latino (295 and 13.6%), and Unknown (76 and 3.5%).

The largest universities in Salisbury, NC by number of degrees awarded are Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (1,807 and 81.4%), Catawba College (282 and 12.7%), and Livingstone College (100 and 4.51%).

The most popular majors in Salisbury, NC are Liberal Arts & Sciences (380 and 17.1%), Information Technology (276 and 12.4%), and General Business Administration & Management (139 and 6.26%).

The median tuition cost for private four year colleges is $25,109.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2024 in Salisbury, NC, the percentage of applicants admitted was 64.7%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 10.1%. The number of students enrolled in 2024 was 9,455 (42% men and 58% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2024 there were 9,455 students enrolled in Salisbury, NC, 42% men and 58% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 4,433 records, of which 57.9% were women and 42.1% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Liberal Arts & Sciences
377 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
107 degrees awarded
Other Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies, & Humanities
66 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Salisbury, NC was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 377 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Salisbury, NC according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
1,807 degrees awarded
Catawba College
282 degrees awarded
Livingstone College
100 degrees awarded

In 2024, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Rowan-Cabarrus Community College with 1,807 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2024, 1,008 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Salisbury, NC, which is 0.832 times less than the 1,211 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2024, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 1,225 degrees mean that there were 2.75 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 445 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($25,109) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2024.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($2,379) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2024.

Public, 2-year ($1,800) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Salisbury, NC was $242,500 in 2024, which is 0.729 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $215,200 to $242,500, a 12.7% increase. The homeownership rate in Salisbury, NC is 51.8%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Salisbury, NC have an average commute time of 21.8 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Salisbury, NC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$242,500

Median Property Value 2024

±$17,830

$7,275

Median Property Taxes

±$732

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Salisbury, NC the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Salisbury, NC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

51.8%

Homeownership

2024

61.9%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 51.8% of the housing units in Salisbury, NC were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 49.7%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Salisbury, NC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$53,716

Median Household Income

± $4,166

14k

Number of Households

± 1,126

In 2024, the median household income of the 14k households in Salisbury, NC grew to $53,716 from the previous year's value of $51,058.

The following chart displays the households in Salisbury, NC distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Salisbury, NC is from North Carolina.

0.466

2024 Wage GINI in North Carolina

0.467

2023 Wage GINI in North Carolina

In 2024, the income inequality in North Carolina was 0.466 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.16% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for North Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.474. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in North Carolina in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in North Carolina across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (72.2%)
Carpooled (11.7%)
Worked At Home (8.74%)

In 2024, 72.2% of workers in Salisbury, NC drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (11.7%) and those who worked at home (8.74%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

21.8 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Salisbury, NC have a shorter commute time (21.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 0.766% of the workforce in Salisbury, NC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Salisbury, NC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Salisbury, NC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Salisbury, NC have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

26.3% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Salisbury, NC (8.57k out of 32.5k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 35 - 44, followed by Females 25 - 34 and then Males 6 - 11.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Salisbury, NC is Black, followed by White and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798, followed by New York (5,087).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

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