1st Advantage MortgageAbout 73% of Bertie County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $48,750. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Bertie County at a glance
- The Bertie County job picture
- How much Bertie County households make
- Renting and owning in Bertie County
- The counties around Bertie County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Bertie County
- People and households in Bertie County
- Before borrowing in Bertie County
- What a median Bertie County budget can carry
- Lender oversight for Bertie County
- Steps before you apply in Bertie County
- More guides for Bertie County
- Frequently asked questions
Bertie County at a glance
Bertie County is home to about 17,170 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 85th most populous of 100 county-level areas in North Carolina. Spread over 699 square miles, that works out to roughly 24.6 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Windsor is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 3,269 people (19% of the county total).
The Bertie County job picture
Education and health care employs 28% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 15%. Public administration stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Bertie County averages 5.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 8.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Bertie County share | +/- vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.4% | +5.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.2% | +3.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.0% | -1.6 pts |
| Public administration | 10.9% | +6.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.0% | -4.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.7% | +5.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Bertie County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How much Bertie County households make
Bertie County households have a median income of $48,750 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 88th of 100 in North Carolina.
| Income band | Share in Bertie County | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 38.0% | +14.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.8% | -1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.0% | -9.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.2% | -4.2 pts |
Some 38% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 22% have six-figure incomes. 16.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.0%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.488 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Bertie County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Bertie County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $839 in Bertie County versus $1,228 statewide. 45% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. With a median value of $98,500, a typical Bertie County house costs 2.0 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 73% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1981.
| Measure | Bertie County | North Carolina | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $839/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $98,500 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 31.3% | 11.0% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Bertie County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
The counties around Bertie County
Six nearby counties, 17 to 32 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Perquimans County leads the group on income ($67,917), Washington County trails ($41,813), and Bertie County out-earns 3 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bertie County | - | $48,750 | $839/mo | 73% |
| Martin County, NC | 17 mi | $48,578 | $758/mo | 67% |
| Chowan County, NC | 21 mi | $53,864 | $681/mo | 71% |
| Hertford County, NC | 21 mi | $45,537 | $844/mo | 67% |
| Washington County, NC | 26 mi | $41,813 | $743/mo | 68% |
| Gates County, NC | 30 mi | $66,333 | $1,143/mo | 81% |
| Perquimans County, NC | 32 mi | $67,917 | $1,008/mo | 77% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Bertie County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 32% of Bertie County residents live in one of the 8. Live in one of these Bertie County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windsor | town | 3,269 | $40,714 | $746 | 5 mi |
| Aulander | town | 689 | $36,689 | $624 | 14 mi |
| Lewiston Woodville | town | 447 | $41,375 | $542 | 13 mi |
| Roxobel | town | 326 | $39,167 | $1,100 | 18 mi |
| Powellsville | town | 277 | $53,542 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Colerain | town | 239 | $118,359 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Kelford | town | 177 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
| Askewville | town | 155 | $41,667 | $675 | 4 mi |
People and households in Bertie County
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. 9.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Bertie County | North Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.0% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.2% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.9% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.7% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.1% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Bertie County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.4% |
| 60+ min | 8.1% |
Before borrowing in Bertie County
A few patterns in the Bertie County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 31% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Retirees. At a median age of 46.6, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- 45% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
What a median Bertie County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Bertie County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $4,062 a month: gross income for a household at the Bertie County median
- Rent at the median, $839, takes 21% of that
- With a 43% ceiling, about $908 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Lender oversight for Bertie County
Consumer lenders serving Bertie County are licensed by the state, not the county; in North Carolina that is the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the North Carolina state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Bertie County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Bertie County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Bertie County
The North Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Bertie County earn?
The median is $48,750; 22% earn $100,000 or more and 38% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Bertie County rent compare with North Carolina?
$839 locally versus $1,228 for the state, 32% below.
I live in a small Bertie County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Windsor, Aulander, Lewiston Woodville, Roxobel, Powellsville and 3 more.
Is the fit check different in Bertie County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Bertie County residents?
The North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks licenses consumer lenders in North Carolina; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.