HomeNorth CarolinaLincoln County
Lincoln County, North Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Lincoln County, North Carolina has a population of 92,716 across 298 square miles, up 12.4 percent since the 2020 census base. County output reached $4.74 bn in 2024, 2,081 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 73 7(a) approvals worth $42.9 m.
126 sourced county values · tier FULL · 12 sections
Lincoln County
How many people live in Lincoln County
- Population92,716
- Households36,811
- Average household size2.52
- Median household income$80,016
- Median age44.4
- Median gross rent$1,015 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$321,000
- Home value to household income4.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher28.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree8.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over66,838
- Population under 1819,131
- Share under 1820.6 percent
- Population 65 and over18,062
- Share 65 and over19.5 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6455,523
- Civilian labor force46,238
- Unemployment rate3.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.8 percent
- Rank by population among North Carolina counties31st of 100
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents659th
Lincoln County is the 31st largest of 100 North Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 4.0 times median household income, which is an affordable ownership market by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 20.6 percent against 19.5 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Lincoln County
Is Lincoln County growing
- Population change since the 2020 census base12.44 percent
- Census 2020 base population86,812
- Births, 2024952
- Deaths, 20241,000
- Natural change, 2024-48
- Net domestic migration, 20241,575
- Net international migration, 2024294
- Total net migration, 20241,869
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202410,035
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents100th
The county has grown 12.44 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration alone is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Lincoln County
Where people moving to Lincoln County come from
- Tax returns filed by households arriving3,626
- People arriving, from those returns6,877
- Adjusted gross income arriving$318.2 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$0
- Average income of an arriving household$87,755
- Largest single originLincoln County Non-migrants (32,917 households)
- Largest single destination (32,917 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County Non-migrants | 32,917 | 69,167 | $3.00 bn |
| Other flows - Different State | 1,085 | 2,035 | $118.6 m |
| Mecklenburg County | 806 | 1,545 | $84.7 m |
| Gaston County | 556 | 1,105 | $30.2 m |
| Other flows - South | 494 | 948 | $47.3 m |
| Catawba County | 364 | 675 | $22.3 m |
| Other flows - Same State | 258 | 449 | $19.0 m |
| Other flows - Northeast | 246 | 450 | $28.8 m |
The largest single source of arrivals is Lincoln County Non-migrants, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Lincoln County
What the Lincoln County economy runs on
- County GDP, 2024$4.74 bn
- County GDP, 2023$4.32 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20249.8 percent
- GDP change over five years50.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among North Carolina counties32nd
- Rank by GDP among US county-equivalents736th
- GDP per resident$51,176
Output grew 9.8 percent in the latest year and 50.8 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Lincoln County
Who employs people in Lincoln County
- Covered employment, annual average28,110
- Establishments reporting2,604
- Average annual pay$55,677
- Average weekly wage$1,071
- Sector 31-33, employment4,995
- Sector 31-33, average annual pay$65,257
- Sector 44-45, employment3,650
- Sector 44-45, average annual pay$31,880
- Sector 72, employment2,667
- Sector 72, average annual pay$21,484
- Sector 23, employment2,199
- Sector 23, average annual pay$68,644
- Sector 62, employment1,639
- Sector 56, employment1,612
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 31-33 | 4,995 | 121 | $65,257 |
| Sector 44-45 | 3,650 | 282 | $31,880 |
| Sector 72 | 2,667 | 158 | $21,484 |
| Sector 23 | 2,199 | 372 | $68,644 |
| Sector 62 | 1,639 | 178 | $54,490 |
| Sector 56 | 1,612 | 212 | $52,964 |
| Sector 48-49 | 1,401 | 100 | $60,650 |
| Sector 42 | 1,147 | 159 | $73,867 |
The largest sector is the biggest private employer group at 4,995 jobs, 17.8 percent of covered employment. Average pay per job sits below median household income, so households here typically need more than one earner.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Lincoln County
What businesses operate in Lincoln County
- Establishments, all industries2,081
- Employment at those establishments23,461
- Annual payroll$1.10 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Lincoln County
What is being built in Lincoln County
- Housing units authorised by permit, 2024697
- Declared construction value permitted$194.0 m
- Single family units authorised697
- Multifamily units authorised0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$278,292
- Units authorised per 1,000 households18.9
Multifamily is 0.0 percent of units authorised, so the pipeline is predominantly for sale product.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Lincoln County
How much SBA lending happens in Lincoln County
- 7(a) approvals recorded73
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$42.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$587,911
- Median 7(a) approval$215,000
- 10th percentile approval$35,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,736,300
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)545
- Jobs per approval7.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active31
- Distinct industries receiving approvals55
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer19.2 percent
- Loans on real estate terms14
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter57
- Franchise loans17
- Franchise share of approvals23.3 percent
- Leading industry by approval countAll Other Specialty Trade Contractors (4)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (7)
- 504 approvals recorded18
- 504 gross approval dollars$13.9 m
- Average 504 approval$770,667
- Median 504 approval$736,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval8.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.7
- Most active CDCBusiness Expansion Funding Corporation (12)
- 7(a) share of SBA approvals80.2 percent
- Combined SBA approval dollars$56.8 m
The average approval of $587,911 sits well above the median of $215,000, so a small number of large deals is pulling the mean up. The median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here actually gets. Only 19.2 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lincoln County
Do SBA loans in Lincoln County get paid back
- Loans with a final outcome recorded9
- Paid in full9
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full9
- Status: Cancelled6
- Status: Exempt from disclosure55
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed3
Too few loans have reached a final outcome to publish a charge off rate. only 9 resolved loans, too few to publish a rate. A rate computed on a handful of loans is noise, so none is shown.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lincoln County
Which parts of Lincoln County get the lending
- Places in the county with recorded lending6
- DENVER, approvals44
- Lincolnton, approvals20
- STANLEY, approvals4
- VALE, approvals3
- IRON STATION, approvals1
- Maiden, approvals1
| Place | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| DENVER | 44 | $27,771,500 |
| Lincolnton | 20 | $10,986,900 |
| STANLEY | 4 | $895,000 |
| VALE | 3 | $670,000 |
| IRON STATION | 1 | $571,200 |
| Maiden | 1 | $2,022,900 |
DENVER accounts for 44 approvals against 20 in Lincolnton. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lincoln County
How big is Lincoln County
- Land area298 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Carolina counties82nd of 100
- Width, east to west33.3 mi
- Height, north to south11.6 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land311
- Establishments per square mile6.98
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Lincoln County
What hazards affect Lincoln County
- EPA radon zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
- Communities in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
The EPA places the county in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L.
US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001. FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book, Community Status Book, as retrieved.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Every item below could be filled with a plausible figure. None of them is. On a page a lender may read, a number that cannot be traced is worse than an absence, so the absences are named.
- Flood zone record counts are not held. The flood coverage export has not landed, so no count is shown rather than an estimated one.
- Traffic counts resolve in the platform, not in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here.
- Zoning is in build. Parcel level zoning is not published on this page.
Feasibility studies
When a Lincoln County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Lincoln County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population92,716
- Households36,811
- Average household size2.52
- Median household income$80,016
- Median age44.4
Common questions
Lincoln County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Lincoln County, North Carolina?
92,716, in 36,811 households, ranking 31st of 100 North Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Lincoln County growing?
The population has grown 12.44 percent since the 2020 census base. In 2024 there were 952 births against 1,000 deaths, with net migration of 1,869. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Lincoln County?
$80,016. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $321,000, which is 4.0 times income, and median gross rent is $1,015 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are there in Lincoln County?
2,081 establishments, employing 23,461 people with an annual payroll of $1.10 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is the average wage in Lincoln County?
Average annual pay is $55,677, or $1,071 a week, across 28,110 covered jobs. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Lincoln County?
73 7(a) approvals totalling $42.9 m since FY2020, across 31 lenders, with a median approval of $215,000, plus 18 504 approvals worth $13.9 m. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
What is being built in Lincoln County?
697 housing units were authorised by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $194.0 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Lincoln County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Lincoln County come from?
The largest single origin is Lincoln County Non-migrants, with 32,917 households. Arriving households report an average income of $87,755 against null for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Lincoln County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Lincoln County?
Not yet. The zoning layer is in build. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame with confirm locally attached.