Ayden, North Carolina

Population, housing costs, incomes, jobs, commuting and climate in Ayden, compared with North Carolina and the U.S. using Census records and their margins of error.

Ayden town · Incorporated town · Census GEOID 3702840 · North Carolina directory

Population · July 1, 2025
5,263 PEP Vintage 2025
Change · 2024 to 2025
+0.8% +44 residents
Household income
$42,413 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$5,393
Home value
$182,400 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$15,217
Monthly gross rent
$778 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$135
Median age
41.9 years ACS 2020–2024 · ±7.6
Ayden, North Carolina location in the United States Ayden, North Carolina
Census 2024 simplified state outlines; 2025 Gazetteer internal points. Alaska and Hawaii use separate insets. Approximate locator; city boundaries are not shown. Map sources.

Ayden is an incorporated town in Pitt County, North Carolina, part of the Greenville, NC metropolitan area. With 5,263 residents on July 1, 2025, it ranks 141st in North Carolina and 4,756th nationally among Census places. Its population grew by 44 (0.8%) in the year to July 2025; since April 2020 it has grown 3.6%. Median gross rent in the 2020–2024 survey is $778 a month, 36.6% below the North Carolina median. Median household income is $42,413, 41.4% below the North Carolina median.

What stands out in Ayden?

Compared with other North Carolina places, Ayden is most distinctive for denser settlement, lower household incomes and fewer local jobs relative to residents. Each statement below uses reliable estimates only, and survey differences from the state exceed their combined 90% margin of error.

  • Residents per square mile of land: 1,380; higher than 84% of 549 North Carolina places with reliable estimates.
  • Median household income: $42,413, 41.4% below the North Carolina median ($72,388); lower than 82% of 451 North Carolina places with reliable estimates.
  • Jobs located in the place per 100 residents: 22.9; lower than 79% of 397 North Carolina places with reliable estimates.
  • Median gross rent: $778, 36.6% below the North Carolina median ($1,228); lower than 79% of 429 North Carolina places with reliable estimates.
  • Households with a broadband subscription: 93.4%, 3.3 percentage points above the North Carolina rate (90.1%); higher than 76% of 520 North Carolina places with reliable estimates.

How Ayden compares with North Carolina and the U.S.

City, state and U.S. figures · ACS 2020–2024, LODES 8.4 and PEP Vintage 2025 · position among North Carolina places with reliable estimates
Measure Ayden North Carolina U.S. Position in North Carolina
Population change since April 2020 PEP Vintage 2025 +3.6% — — higher than 50% of 530 North Carolina places
Residents per square mile of land PEP 2025 / Gazetteer 2025 1,380 — — higher than 84% of 549 North Carolina places
Median household income B19013 $42,413 ±$5,393 $72,388 $80,734 lower than 82% of 451 North Carolina places
Median home value B25077 $182,400 ±$15,217 $288,900 $332,700 lower than 60% of 496 North Carolina places
Median real estate taxes paid B25103 $1,734 ±$252 $1,896 $3,119 higher than 62% of 514 North Carolina places
Median gross rent B25064 $778 ±$135 $1,228 $1,413 lower than 79% of 429 North Carolina places
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent B25070 61.3% ±18.4 pp 48.9% 51.1% higher than 77% of 268 North Carolina places
Homeownership rate B25003 59.2% ±5.8 pp 66.6% 65.2% lower than 65% of 524 North Carolina places
Median age B01002 41.9 years ±7.6 39.1 years 38.9 years higher than 54% of 515 North Carolina places
Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher B15003 23.0% ±5.8 pp 35.7% 35.7% lower than 62% of 395 North Carolina places
Poverty rate B17001 22.4% ±7.8 pp 13.0% 12.5% higher than 66% of 249 North Carolina places
People without health insurance B27010 8.7% ±6.2 pp · low precision 9.9% 8.4% Not ranked: low precision
Households with a broadband subscription B28002 93.4% ±2.4 pp 90.1% 91.0% higher than 76% of 520 North Carolina places
Unemployment rate (civilian labor force) B23025 6.7% ±4.5 pp · low precision 4.7% 5.2% Not ranked: low precision
Foreign-born residents B05002 1.7% ±1.5 pp · low precision 9.1% 14.1% Not ranked: low precision
Jobs located in the place per 100 residents LODES 8.4 / PEP 22.9 — — lower than 79% of 397 North Carolina places
Change in local jobs since 2019 LODES 8.4 +3.5% — — lower than 58% of 363 North Carolina places
Workers who work from home B08301 2.9% ±3.3 pp · low precision 16.3% 15.1% Not ranked: low precision
Commutes of 45 minutes or longer B08303 12.1% ±6.7 pp · low precision 13.9% 16.5% Not ranked: low precision
Households without a vehicle B08201 8.0% ±5.7 pp · low precision 5.3% 8.4% Not ranked: low precision

Positions compare Ayden with North Carolina places in this directory whose estimate has a coefficient of variation of 30% or less (survey measures) or a published PEP value. The marker runs from the lowest value (left) to the highest (right); it is a description, not a score or a recommendation. 6 measures are shown in grey because the survey margin of error is too wide to rank reliably.

How many people live in Ayden?

The latest official estimate is 5,263 residents on July 1, 2025. It ranks 4,756th by population nationally and 141st in North Carolina among this directory’s PEP places. Population changed by 44 residents between the 2024 and 2025 estimates. These are annual estimates, not census enumerations.

Ayden population estimates, 2020 through 2025, Census Vintage 2025. Vertical range 4,830 to 5,421; axis does not start at zero. Residents · axis does not start at zero 5,421 4,830 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Annual July 1 estimates, all from Vintage 2025. Revised April 1, 2020 estimate base: 5,078; the base is separate from July 2020.
Population history · PEP Vintage 2025
Reference date Population Change from previous estimate
July 1, 2020 5,084 Separate from April 2020 base
July 1, 2021 5,134 +50
July 1, 2022 5,164 +30
July 1, 2023 5,193 +29
July 1, 2024 5,219 +26
July 1, 2025 5,263 +44

From the revised April 2020 base to July 2025, the change is +185 residents (3.6%). This is a within-vintage comparison. Boundary adjustments can affect both the estimates and their interpretation.

Download this population chart (SVG) · Official population release

Where are the boundaries?

Entity and stable identifier
Ayden town, North Carolina · Incorporated town · 3702840
Counties or equivalents · 2025 boundaries
Pitt County
Metropolitan or micropolitan context · July 2023 delineations
Greenville, NC — Metropolitan Statistical Area County associations use Census PEP county place parts. Each county is matched by FIPS code to the official CBSA list; a city can span several counties or statistical areas. A missing association can reflect an area outside a CBSA or changed county codes between vintages. City figures on this page remain place-level statistics.
Land area
3.8 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
Water area
0.0 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
Approximate population density
1,380 residents per square mile of land
Internal point
35.469351°, -77.416641° · Census geographic reference point

Density divides the July 2025 estimate by 2025 Gazetteer land area, so it is approximate. The internal point is a locator, not an address. Census place profile reference .

Income and poverty

City, state and U.S. estimates · ACS 2020–2024
Measure / survey universe City estimate ± MOE State estimate ± MOE U.S. estimate ± MOE
Median household income Households · USD/year $42,413 ±$5,393 $72,388 ±$324 $80,734 ±$166
Per-capita income Total population · USD/year $24,724 ±$2,519 $41,385 ±$211 $44,673 ±$122
Population with poverty status determined · B17001 · ACS 2020–2024 People with poverty status determined: 5,004
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Below the poverty level 1,123 ±392 22.4% ±7.8 pp

Household income combines the incomes of everyone in a household; per-capita income divides all income by every resident. The poverty rate is 22.4% (±7.8 percentage points) under the official Census definition.

Home values, rent and tenure

City, state and U.S. estimates · ACS 2020–2024
Measure / survey universe City estimate ± MOE State estimate ± MOE U.S. estimate ± MOE
Median owner-occupied home value Owner-occupied housing units · USD $182,400 ±$15,217 $288,900 ±$1,086 $332,700 ±$236
Median gross rent Renter-occupied units paying cash rent · USD/month $778 ±$135 $1,228 ±$5 $1,413 ±$2
Occupied housing units by tenure · B25003 · ACS 2020–2024 Occupied housing units: 2,279
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Owner occupied 1,350 ±206 59.2% ±5.8 pp
Renter occupied 929 ±231 40.8% ±8.9 pp

Owner-occupied units make up 59.2% of occupied housing. Gross rent includes estimated tenant-paid utilities and home values are owners’ own estimates; both cover 2020–2024 leases and homes rather than current listings. The median home value is 4.3 times the median household income.

See housing units, occupancy, rent burden and homeowner costs .

Monthly rent by bedroom count

Median monthly gross rent by bedrooms · ACS 2020–2024 · 2024 dollars
Bedrooms Monthly gross rent 90% margin of error Precision
No bedroom (studio) Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
1 bedroom Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
2 bedrooms $765 ±$210 Estimate with MOE
3 bedrooms $991 ±$119 Estimate with MOE
4 bedrooms Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
5 or more bedrooms Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable

Census table B25031 describes renter-occupied units paying cash rent within this exact place geography. Gross rent includes contract rent and estimated tenant-paid utilities. These survey medians include existing leases across 2020–2024; they are not current apartment listings. Missing categories stay unavailable, and open-ended medians remain ranges. Small bedroom categories can have large margins of error. Download source values and provenance .

Employment among residents

Labor-force participation · B23025 · ACS 2020–2024 Population age 16 and older: 4,117
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
In the labor force 2,318 ±271 56.3% ±5.4 pp
Not in the labor force 1,799 ±371 43.7% ±8.5 pp
Civilian labor-force status · B23025 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian labor force: 2,313
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Civilian employed 2,157 ±225 93.3% ±14.6 pp
Civilian unemployed 156 ±106 · low precision 6.7% ±4.5 pp · low precision

These estimates describe residents of Ayden wherever they work; jobs at workplaces inside the city appear under jobs located in Ayden. They are 2020–2024 averages, not a current monthly unemployment rate.

Which industries employ residents?

Education, health care and social assistance is the largest of the published broad industry groups among employed residents: 26.7% (575 people; ±7.9 percentage points). The estimate covers residents’ industries wherever they work, rather than employers located inside the place.

Industry of employed residents · C24030 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 2,157
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining 0 ±27 · low precision 0.0% ±1.2 pp · low precision
Construction 195 ±197 · low precision 9.0% ±9.1 pp · low precision
Manufacturing 291 ±151 · low precision 13.5% ±6.8 pp · low precision
Wholesale trade 56 ±64 · low precision 2.6% ±2.9 pp · low precision
Retail trade 220 ±160 · low precision 10.2% ±7.3 pp · low precision
Transportation, warehousing and utilities 64 ±95 · low precision 3.0% ±4.4 pp · low precision
Information 0 ±27 · low precision 0.0% ±1.2 pp · low precision
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing 208 ±150 · low precision 9.6% ±6.9 pp · low precision
Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste services 111 ±79 · low precision 5.1% ±3.6 pp · low precision
Education, health care and social assistance 575 ±181 26.7% ±7.9 pp
Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services 259 ±171 · low precision 12.0% ±7.8 pp · low precision
Other services, except public administration 55 ±73 · low precision 2.5% ±3.4 pp · low precision
Public administration 123 ±92 · low precision 5.7% ±4.2 pp · low precision

Occupations among employed residents

Broad occupation groups · C24010 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 2,157
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Management, business, science and arts 865 ±217 40.1% ±9.2 pp
Service occupations 362 ±202 · low precision 16.8% ±9.2 pp · low precision
Sales and office 513 ±245 23.8% ±11.1 pp
Natural resources, construction and maintenance 138 ±103 · low precision 6.4% ±4.7 pp · low precision
Production, transportation and material moving 279 ±147 · low precision 12.9% ±6.7 pp · low precision
Selected detailed occupation groups · C24010 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 2,157
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Management occupations 177 ±116 · low precision 8.2% ±5.3 pp · low precision
Computer and mathematical occupations 38 ±46 · low precision 1.8% ±2.1 pp · low precision
Educational instruction and library occupations 191 ±119 · low precision 8.9% ±5.4 pp · low precision
Health practitioners and technical occupations 182 ±141 · low precision 8.4% ±6.5 pp · low precision
Sales and related occupations 63 ±43 · low precision 2.9% ±2.0 pp · low precision
Transportation occupations 158 ±126 · low precision 7.3% ±5.8 pp · low precision

The detailed groups are subsets of the broad groups and should not be added to them.

How residents get to work

Means of transportation to work · B08301 · ACS 2020–2024 Workers age 16 and older: 2,104
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Drove alone 1,878 ±261 89.3% ±7.7 pp
Carpooled 92 ±69 · low precision 4.4% ±3.2 pp · low precision
Public transportation 0 ±19 · low precision 0.0% ±0.9 pp · low precision
Taxi or ride-hailing 0 ±19 · low precision 0.0% ±0.9 pp · low precision
Motorcycle 0 ±19 · low precision 0.0% ±0.9 pp · low precision
Bicycle 24 ±38 · low precision 1.1% ±1.8 pp · low precision
Walked 0 ±19 · low precision 0.0% ±0.9 pp · low precision
Other means 48 ±59 · low precision 2.3% ±2.8 pp · low precision
Worked from home 62 ±70 · low precision 2.9% ±3.3 pp · low precision
Travel time to work · B08303 · ACS 2020–2024 Workers age 16+ who did not work from home: 2,042
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Under 15 minutes 493 ±239 24.1% ±11.3 pp
15–29 minutes 1,069 ±347 52.4% ±15.7 pp
30–44 minutes 232 ±111 11.4% ±5.3 pp
45–59 minutes 165 ±120 · low precision 8.1% ±5.8 pp · low precision
60 minutes or longer 83 ±71 · low precision 4.1% ±3.4 pp · low precision
Household vehicle availability · B08201 · ACS 2020–2024 Households: 2,279
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
No vehicle available 183 ±132 · low precision 8.0% ±5.7 pp · low precision

Travel times cover workers who did not work from home. Vehicle availability is counted per household, not per driver.

Households and residents

Median age is 41.9 years (±7.6). The demographic profile covers age groups, race and Hispanic origin, household types, nativity, languages, education and moves, each compared with North Carolina and the U.S.

Read Ayden demographics →

How many jobs are located in Ayden?

Employers in Ayden reported 1,190 jobs in 2023, +3.5% compared with 2019 (1,150 jobs). That is 22.9 jobs for every 100 residents in the July 2023 population estimate, so most employed residents are likely to work elsewhere. These are jobs at workplaces inside the city limits, wherever the workers live, unlike resident employment figures.

Jobs located in Ayden by industry (NAICS sector) · 2023 · LODES 8.4
Industry Jobs Share of local jobs North Carolina share
Health care and social assistance 245 20.6% 13.9%
Retail trade 219 18.4% 11.3%
Educational services 187 15.7% 8.1%
Accommodation and food services 135 11.3% 9.1%
Public administration 108 9.1% 4.8%
Manufacturing 59 5.0% 10.0%
Other services, except public administration 59 5.0% 2.8%
Transportation and warehousing 37 3.1% 3.8%
Finance and insurance 29 2.4% 4.7%
Construction 27 2.3% 5.5%
Arts, entertainment and recreation 24 2.0% 1.7%
Administrative, support and waste management services 23 1.9% 6.9%
Wholesale trade 21 1.8% 4.4%
Real estate and rental and leasing 7 0.6% 1.5%
Professional, scientific and technical services 6 0.5% 7.0%
Information 4 0.3% 1.8%
Monthly earnings and worker age · jobs located in Ayden · 2023
Group Jobs Share North Carolina share
$1,250 a month or less 327 27.5% 18.1%
$1,251 to $3,333 a month 452 38.0% 27.5%
More than $3,333 a month 411 34.5% 54.4%
Age 29 or younger 314 26.4% 22.7%
Age 30 to 54 583 49.0% 53.1%
Age 55 or older 293 24.6% 24.3%

Health care and social assistance is the largest sector for jobs located in Ayden (20.6% of local jobs, compared with 13.9% statewide). Earnings bands describe what each job pays per month, not household income, and a worker can hold more than one job.

Source: Census LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) 8.4, workplace area characteristics, all jobs, second-quarter reference date. Census blocks are summed to 2024 place boundaries. Includes private, state and local government and federal civilian jobs; excludes self-employment, military and informal work. Counts include confidentiality noise and are less precise for small places.

Nearby station climate normals

GREENVILLE, NC (NOAA station USC00313638) is approximately 19.0 km from this place’s Census internal point. The table describes that station’s 1991–2020 climate normals, using NOAA’s corrected version 1.0.1. It is historical station context, rather than a forecast or an average across the city.

GREENVILLE monthly average daily high and low temperature, 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Solid line: high; dashed line: low. Vertical scale 30 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature (°F) 100 30 Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov
Average daily high: solid line. Average daily low: dashed line. NOAA station normals, 1991–2020; the table gives all monthly values.
GREENVILLE · 1991–2020 monthly normals
Month Average daily high (°F) Average daily low (°F) Precipitation (inches)
January 53.2 33.0 3.91
February 56.9 34.9 3.35
March 64.0 41.1 4.22
April 73.5 50.0 3.81
May 80.5 58.8 4.04
June 87.4 67.2 4.36
July 90.4 71.3 5.87
August 88.4 69.7 6.01
September 83.1 64.2 7.33
October 74.1 51.9 3.57
November 64.2 41.2 3.42
December 56.4 35.4 3.55

Station location: 35.64°, -77.3983°; elevation 9.8 meters. We select the nearest station within 25 km with all 12 months of high/low temperature and precipitation marked “S” (standard) by NOAA. Standard normals meet NOAA’s data-availability rules and can include estimated missing months. Distance is a straight-line great-circle calculation from the Census internal point. Coastal exposure, elevation and urban conditions can differ between the station and an address. NOAA normals and definitions · Original station CSV · Retained station data, flags and matching details .

Check a specific address before moving

City averages help compare places. A particular home’s school assignment, transit service and flood-map coverage need checks at the address.

  • FEMA Flood Map Service Center — search the address, read the effective map and its date, and check any map changes. An unmapped location does not establish an absence of flood risk.
  • NCES public school district directory — find district contact information, then use the district’s official address locator or enrollment office to confirm school assignment. A city name or district boundary alone does not assign a school.
  • FCC National Broadband Map — check reported service at the exact location, then confirm availability and terms with the provider.
  • Check the official transit operator’s route map and timetable for the address and your actual travel hours; the citywide commuting shares above do not measure service on a particular street.

Sources and data notes

Population: Census PEP Vintage 2025, published May 14, 2026. Survey measures: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates, published January 29, 2026, dollar figures in 2024 dollars. Geography: Census 2025 Gazetteer, with simplified 2024 state outlines for the locator. Statistical estimates and derived values use the same retained records in profiles, comparison, filters and downloads.

Climate uses NOAA 1991–2020 station normals (v1.0.1); jobs located in the city use LEHD LODES 8.4. Crime, school assignments and hazard scores are not inferred from these datasets, and missing values are never treated as zero. Inspect original sources, read calculation details, download this place’s source observations , or submit a correction.

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