Lenoir, NC Demographics

A map of Lenoir's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	13,394	13,147	73.2%	71.6%
Hispanic	2,421	2,058	13.2%	11.2%
Black	1,822	2,101	10.0%	11.4%
Multiracial	475	761	2.6%	4.1%
Asian	172	175	0.9%	1.0%
Native American/Other	15	110	0.1%	0.6%

Lenoir, North Carolina has an estimated population of 18,299, a less than 1% change from the 18,352 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 73.2% White, 13.2% Hispanic, 10.0% Black, 2.6% Multiracial, 0.9% Asian, and 0.1% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Lenoir, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Lenoir 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 Lenoir, that probability was 45.9% in 2020 and 43.6% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Lenoir is ranked the 56th 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). Lenoir was ranked the 55th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Lenoir's White Population

13,394 residents of Lenoir, or 73.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Lenoir is considerably higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Lenoir ranks 382nd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lenoir's White population has grown by an estimated 1.9%. White residents' share of Lenoir's population has increased from 71.6% to 73.2%.

Lenoir is less White than neighboring Cajah's Mountain (86.2% White), Hudson (93.3% White), Cedar Rock (87.9% White), Gamewell (81.3% White), and Sawmills (93.8% White).

Lenoir's Black Population

1,822 residents of Lenoir, or 10.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Lenoir is lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Lenoir ranks 392nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lenoir's Black population has declined by an estimated 13.3%. Black residents' share of Lenoir's population has decreased from 11.4% to 10.0%.

Lenoir is more Black than neighboring Cajah's Mountain (0% Black), Hudson (0.7% Black), Cedar Rock (0% Black), Gamewell (0.2% Black), and Sawmills (1.2% Black).

Lenoir's Asian Population

172 residents of Lenoir, or 0.9% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Lenoir is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Lenoir ranks 282nd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lenoir's Asian population has declined by an estimated 1.7%. Asian residents' share of Lenoir's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.9%.

Lenoir is more Asian than neighboring Cajah's Mountain (0.2% Asian), Hudson (0% Asian), Cedar Rock (0% Asian), Gamewell (0% Asian), and Sawmills (0% Asian).

Lenoir's Hispanic Population

2,421 residents of Lenoir, or 13.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Lenoir is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Lenoir ranks 181st statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lenoir's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 17.6%. Hispanic residents' share of Lenoir's population has increased from 11.2% to 13.2%.

Lenoir is more Hispanic than neighboring Cajah's Mountain (13.1% Hispanic), Hudson (5.2% Hispanic), Cedar Rock (6.9% Hispanic), and Sawmills (2.9% Hispanic). Lenoir is less Hispanic than neighboring Gamewell (14.9% Hispanic).

Lenoir's Native American/Other Population

15 residents of Lenoir, or 0.1% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Lenoir is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Lenoir ranks 498th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lenoir's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 86.4%. Native American/Other residents' share of Lenoir's population has decreased from 0.6% to 0.1%.

Lenoir is more Native American/Other than neighboring Hudson (0% Native American/Other), Cedar Rock (0% Native American/Other), and Sawmills (0% Native American/Other). Lenoir is less Native American/Other than neighboring Cajah's Mountain (0.2% Native American/Other).

Lenoir's Multiracial Population

475 residents of Lenoir, or 2.6% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Lenoir is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Lenoir ranks 287th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lenoir's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 37.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Lenoir's population has decreased from 4.1% to 2.6%.

Lenoir is more Multiracial than neighboring Cajah's Mountain (0.3% Multiracial), Hudson (0.7% Multiracial), and Sawmills (2.1% Multiracial). Lenoir is less Multiracial than neighboring Cedar Rock (5.2% Multiracial), and Gamewell (3.5% 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.