Cornelius, NC Demographics

A map of Cornelius's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	26,887	25,017	82.0%	79.6%
Multiracial	1,834	1,166	5.6%	3.7%
Hispanic	1,761	2,307	5.4%	7.3%
Black	1,150	1,957	3.5%	6.2%
Asian	1,029	757	3.1%	2.4%
Native American/Other	122	208	0.4%	0.7%

Cornelius, North Carolina has an estimated population of 32,783, an increase from the 31,412 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 82.0% White, 5.6% Multiracial, 5.4% Hispanic, 3.5% Black, 3.1% Asian, and 0.4% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Cornelius, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Cornelius has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than North Carolina overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Cornelius, that probability was 35.4% in 2020 and 31.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Cornelius is ranked the 32nd most populous place in North Carolina, out of 776 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Cornelius was ranked the 31st most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Cornelius's White Population

26,887 residents of Cornelius, or 82.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Cornelius is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Cornelius ranks 269th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Cornelius's White population has grown by an estimated 7.5%. White residents' share of Cornelius's population has increased from 79.6% to 82.0%.

Cornelius is more White than neighboring Davidson (80.2% White), Huntersville (67.3% White), and Mooresville (69.3% White). Cornelius is less White than neighboring Lake Norman of Iredell (87.9% White), and Westport (93% White).

Cornelius's Black Population

1,150 residents of Cornelius, or 3.5% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Cornelius is significantly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Cornelius ranks 488th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Cornelius's Black population has declined by an estimated 41.2%. Black residents' share of Cornelius's population has decreased from 6.2% to 3.5%.

Cornelius is more Black than neighboring Lake Norman of Iredell (0.3% Black), and Westport (0.8% Black). Cornelius is less Black than neighboring Davidson (8.8% Black), Huntersville (13.3% Black), and Mooresville (12.2% Black).

Cornelius's Asian Population

1,029 residents of Cornelius, or 3.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Cornelius is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Cornelius ranks 95th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Cornelius's Asian population has grown by an estimated 35.9%. Asian residents' share of Cornelius's population has increased from 2.4% to 3.1%.

Cornelius is more Asian than neighboring Davidson (3% Asian), Lake Norman of Iredell (1.7% Asian), and Westport (1.4% Asian). Cornelius is less Asian than neighboring Huntersville (6.4% Asian), and Mooresville (4.4% Asian).

Cornelius's Hispanic Population

1,761 residents of Cornelius, or 5.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Cornelius is lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Cornelius ranks 316th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Cornelius's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 23.7%. Hispanic residents' share of Cornelius's population has decreased from 7.3% to 5.4%.

Cornelius is more Hispanic than neighboring Davidson (3.5% Hispanic), and Westport (3.3% Hispanic). Cornelius is less Hispanic than neighboring Huntersville (8.3% Hispanic), Lake Norman of Iredell (7% Hispanic), and Mooresville (8.3% Hispanic).

Cornelius's Native American/Other Population

122 residents of Cornelius, or 0.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Cornelius is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Cornelius ranks 459th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Cornelius's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 41.3%. Native American/Other residents' share of Cornelius's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Cornelius is more Native American/Other than neighboring Lake Norman of Iredell (0.3% Native American/Other), and Westport (0% Native American/Other). Cornelius is less Native American/Other than neighboring Huntersville (0.5% Native American/Other), and Mooresville (1.2% Native American/Other).

Cornelius's Multiracial Population

1,834 residents of Cornelius, or 5.6% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Cornelius is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Cornelius ranks 386th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Cornelius's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 57.3%. Multiracial residents' share of Cornelius's population has increased from 3.7% to 5.6%.

Cornelius is more Multiracial than neighboring Davidson (4% Multiracial), Huntersville (4.1% Multiracial), Lake Norman of Iredell (2.8% Multiracial), Westport (1.5% Multiracial), and Mooresville (4.7% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.