1st Advantage MortgageBladen County households have a median income of $42,422 and median rent of $773 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Bladen County, NC: the basics
- Renting and owning in Bladen County
- Household income in Bladen County
- Jobs and commutes in Bladen County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Bladen County
- Regional comparison for Bladen County
- People and households in Bladen County
- Borrowing situations common in Bladen County
- A Bladen County household budget, worked through
- North Carolina rules that apply in Bladen County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Bladen County, NC: the basics
With an estimated 29,566 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Bladen County ranks 71st of 100 in North Carolina for population. Spread over 875 square miles, that works out to roughly 33.8 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Bladen County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 10 Census places inside Bladen County, Elizabethtown leads by population with about 3,277; 7 of the 10 are incorporated.
Renting and owning in Bladen County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $773 in Bladen County versus $1,228 statewide. By the Census definition, 51% of Bladen County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $135,100, or 3.2 years of median income. 69% of Bladen County households own their home and 31% rent. The median year built is 1983.
| Home costs | Bladen County | North Carolina | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $773/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $135,100 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 23% | 13% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Household income in Bladen County
Bladen County households have a median income of $42,422 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 97th of 100 in North Carolina.
| Band | Bladen County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 42.4% | +19.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.1% | -3.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.6% | -9.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.9% | -6.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 20% of Bladen County households make $100,000 or more, and 42% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 22.0%, 9 points higher than the state's 13.0%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.494 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $42,422 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Bladen County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 1% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 24% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Bladen County | Gap to North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.6% | +0.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.8% | +0.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.8% | +6.8 pts |
| Construction | 7.7% | +0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | -0.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Bladen County
10 Census places fall mainly inside Bladen County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 8,967 residents, leaving about 70% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $84,375 at the median in White Lake, $27,292 in Clarkton. Rent is cheapest in Elizabethtown ($439) and steepest in Clarkton ($1,125). None of the 10 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown | town | 3,277 | $29,375 | $439 | 4 mi |
| Bladenboro | town | 2,249 | $52,337 | $655 | 15 mi |
| White Lake | town | 970 | $84,375 | $893 | 5 mi |
| Clarkton | town | 740 | $27,292 | $1,125 | 10 mi |
| Kelly | CDP | 616 | $52,703 | n/a | 16 mi |
| East Arcadia | town | 444 | $44,063 | $439 | 19 mi |
| Dublin | town | 349 | $51,429 | $786 | 11 mi |
| White Oak | CDP | 191 | $98,929 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Tar Heel | town | 69 | $27,014 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Butters | CDP | 62 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
Regional comparison for Bladen County
Six nearby counties, 24 to 42 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Pender County leads the group on income ($80,396), Robeson County trails ($41,978), and Bladen County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bladen County | - | $42,422 | $773/mo | 69% |
| Columbus County, NC | 24 mi | $49,442 | $824/mo | 71% |
| Sampson County, NC | 29 mi | $52,432 | $834/mo | 74% |
| Robeson County, NC | 32 mi | $41,978 | $805/mo | 66% |
| Cumberland County, NC | 36 mi | $61,291 | $1,222/mo | 55% |
| Pender County, NC | 37 mi | $80,396 | $1,106/mo | 83% |
| Duplin County, NC | 42 mi | $55,148 | $865/mo | 70% |
People and households in Bladen County
19% of Bladen County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 10.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Bladen County | North Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.5% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.4% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.2% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.8% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.0% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.9% |
| 60+ min | 10.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Bladen County
Where the Bladen County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Health costs. With 10% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Long drives. With 24% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Bladen County budgets.
- Manufactured homes. 32% of Bladen County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Free help first. 22% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
A Bladen County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Bladen County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $42,422 a year is $3,535 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $773, or 22 cents of every gross dollar
- At 43%, room after rent is $747 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
North Carolina rules that apply in Bladen County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Bladen County resident can confirm its license with the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: North Carolina guide.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Bladen County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
The North Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Bladen County earn?
The median is $42,422; 20% earn $100,000 or more and 42% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Bladen County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $773 against $1,228 statewide, and 51% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Bladen County?
By population: Elizabethtown, Bladenboro, White Lake, Clarkton, Kelly. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Does living in Bladen County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Bladen County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Bladen 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.