Old Fort

Population: 643
Median household income: $50,357
Median home value: $121,400

Located in McDowell County, North Carolina, Old Fort is a community with a population of 643. At $50,357, its median household income sits below McDowell County's $55,527.

From 2019 to 2023, Old Fort's population declined 36.0% from 1,004 to 643, while its median home value rose 47.3% from $82,400 to $121,400.

White (non-Hispanic) residents are the largest group, 90.7% of the population. 73.9% of workers drive to work alone.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 643
Median age: 52.1 yrs
Median household income: $50,357
Median home value: $121,400
Median gross rent: $771
Housing units: 456
Homeownership rate: 52.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 24.0%
Unemployment rate: 4.7%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

1,004643

Median household income

$28,125$50,357

Median home value

$82,400$121,400

Median gross rent

$540$771

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	1,004	$28,125	$82,400	$540
2020	743	$28,269	$89,800	$656
2021	644	$46,429	$109,100	$613
2022	658	$41,125	$111,800	$734
2023	643	$50,357	$121,400	$771

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 51.2%

5 to 1712.1%

18 to 248.2%

25 to 3411.4%

35 to 448.2%

45 to 5417.0%

55 to 6413.7%

65 to 7412.8%

75 and over15.4%

	Count	Share
Under 5	8	1.2%
5 to 17	78	12.1%
18 to 24	53	8.2%
25 to 34	73	11.4%
35 to 44	53	8.2%
45 to 54	109	17.0%
55 to 64	88	13.7%
65 to 74	82	12.8%
75 and over	99	15.4%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	583	90.7%
Black or African American	20	3.1%
American Indian & Alaska Native	14	2.2%
Asian	0	0.0%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	0	0.0%
Two or more races	22	3.4%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	4	0.6%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma5.8%

High school graduate37.7%

Some college or associate's32.5%

Bachelor's degree19.0%

Graduate or professional degree5.0%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	29	5.8%
High school graduate	190	37.7%
Some college or associate's	164	32.5%
Bachelor's degree	96	19.0%
Graduate or professional degree	25	5.0%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 23 min

Drove alone73.9%

Carpooled12.4%

Public transit0.0%

Walked6.2%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home7.6%

Other means0.0%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	215	73.9%
Carpooled	36	12.4%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	18	6.2%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	22	7.6%
Other means	0	0.0%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	60	22.3%
15 to 29 min	97	36.1%
30 to 44 min	104	38.7%
45 to 59 min	8	3.0%
60+ min	0	0.0%

Households

Average household size: 1.85
Poverty rate: 14.0% (90 of 643)

	Count	Share
Family households	215	64.4%
Nonfamily households	119	35.6%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1963

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	334	73.2%
Vacant	122	26.8%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	174	52.1%
Renter-occupied	160	47.9%

1-unit, detached58.8%

1-unit, attached0.0%

2 to 4 units8.6%

5 to 19 units4.6%

20 or more units0.0%

Mobile home & other28.1%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	268	58.8%
1-unit, attached	0	0.0%
2 to 4 units	39	8.6%
5 to 19 units	21	4.6%
20 or more units	0	0.0%
Mobile home & other	128	28.1%

Geography

Place GEOID: 3748920
Type (LSAD): 43
Land area: 1.22 sq mi
Water area: 0.01 sq mi
Center point: 35.6303, -82.1780