Drexel, NC Demographics

A map of Drexel's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	1,724	1,428	80.3%	81.1%
Hispanic	194	123	9.0%	7.0%
Multiracial	98	79	4.6%	4.5%
Asian	56	51	2.6%	2.9%
Black	37	70	1.7%	4.0%
Native American/Other	37	9	1.7%	0.5%

Drexel, North Carolina has an estimated population of 2,146, a large increase from the 1,760 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 80.3% White, 9.0% Hispanic, 4.6% Multiracial, 2.6% Asian, 1.7% Black, and 1.7% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Drexel, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Drexel has become more 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 Drexel, that probability was 33.2% in 2020 and 34.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Drexel is ranked the 331st 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). Drexel was ranked the 339th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Drexel's White Population

1,724 residents of Drexel, or 80.3% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Drexel is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Drexel ranks 245th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Drexel's White population has grown by an estimated 20.7%. White residents' share of Drexel's population has decreased from 81.1% to 80.3%.

Drexel is more White than neighboring Morganton (58.4% White). Drexel is less White than neighboring Valdese (86.2% White), Rutherford College (87.6% White), Gamewell (81.3% White), and Salem (80.9% White).

Drexel's Black Population

37 residents of Drexel, or 1.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Drexel is significantly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Drexel ranks 549th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Drexel's Black population has declined by an estimated 47.1%. Black residents' share of Drexel's population has decreased from 4.0% to 1.7%.

Drexel is more Black than neighboring Rutherford College (0% Black), Gamewell (0.2% Black), and Salem (1.2% Black). Drexel is less Black than neighboring Valdese (3.3% Black), and Morganton (14.3% Black).

Drexel's Asian Population

56 residents of Drexel, or 2.6% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Drexel is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Drexel ranks 74th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Drexel's Asian population has grown by an estimated 9.8%. Asian residents' share of Drexel's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.6%.

Drexel is more Asian than neighboring Morganton (1.3% Asian), Gamewell (0% Asian), and Salem (0% Asian). Drexel is less Asian than neighboring Valdese (3.1% Asian), and Rutherford College (4.4% Asian).

Drexel's Hispanic Population

194 residents of Drexel, or 9.0% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Drexel is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Drexel ranks 337th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Drexel's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 57.7%. Hispanic residents' share of Drexel's population has increased from 7.0% to 9.0%.

Drexel is more Hispanic than neighboring Valdese (5.2% Hispanic), and Rutherford College (5% Hispanic). Drexel is less Hispanic than neighboring Morganton (22.6% Hispanic), Gamewell (14.9% Hispanic), and Salem (14.6% Hispanic).

Drexel's Native American/Other Population

37 residents of Drexel, or 1.7% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Drexel is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Drexel ranks 567th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Drexel's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 311.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Drexel's population has increased from 0.5% to 1.7%.

Drexel is more Native American/Other than neighboring Valdese (0% Native American/Other), Rutherford College (0% Native American/Other), Morganton (0.3% Native American/Other), Gamewell (0.1% Native American/Other), and Salem (0% Native American/Other).

Drexel's Multiracial Population

98 residents of Drexel, or 4.6% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Drexel is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Drexel ranks 204th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Drexel's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 24.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Drexel's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.6%.

Drexel is more Multiracial than neighboring Valdese (2.2% Multiracial), Rutherford College (3% Multiracial), Morganton (3.1% Multiracial), Gamewell (3.5% Multiracial), and Salem (3.3% 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.