1st Advantage MortgageDuplin County households have a median income of $55,148 and median rent of $865 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's North Carolina license first.
On this page
- Duplin County at a glance
- Housing costs in Duplin County
- How much Duplin County households make
- How Duplin County residents earn a living
- How Duplin County compares with nearby counties
- Towns and communities in Duplin County
- Debt-to-income at Duplin County's medians
- Borrowing situations common in Duplin County
- More Duplin County figures
- North Carolina rules that apply in Duplin County
- Checklist for Duplin County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Duplin County at a glance
Duplin County is home to about 49,335 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 52nd most populous of 100 county-level areas in North Carolina. It covers 815 square miles of land, or about 61 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Duplin County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Wallace is the biggest of its 12 Census places, at roughly 3,457 people (7% of the county total).
Housing costs in Duplin County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $865 in Duplin County versus $1,228 statewide. 42% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. Home values center on $137,400, or 2.5 years of median income. Owners occupy 70% of homes. The median year built is 1986.
| Housing | Duplin County | North Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $865/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $137,400 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 13% | n/a |
How much Duplin County households make
At $55,148, the typical Duplin County household income is 16% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Duplin County | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.8% | +9.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.5% | +4.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.8% | -7.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.9% | -6.5 pts |
About 33% of households earn under $35,000, while 22% clear $100,000. Census counts 20.5% of Duplin County residents in poverty, against 13.0% across North Carolina. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.434 here. A household earning below the $55,148 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Duplin County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Duplin County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by manufacturing (17%). Compared with North Carolina, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (6% against 1%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.3% in Duplin County. About 78% drive to work alone and 24% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 5.8% of the total (5.3% statewide).
| Where residents work | Duplin County | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.5% | -2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.7% | +5.0 pts |
| Construction | 10.6% | +3.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.8% | -3.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -1.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How Duplin County compares with nearby counties
Sampson County is closest, 25 miles from center to center; the sixth, Jones County, is 33 miles off. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Duplin County; Pender County is highest at $80,396 and Lenoir County lowest at $45,143.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duplin County | - | $55,148 | $865/mo | 70% |
| Sampson County, NC | 25 mi | $52,432 | $834/mo | 74% |
| Lenoir County, NC | 27 mi | $45,143 | $861/mo | 59% |
| Onslow County, NC | 27 mi | $68,148 | $1,265/mo | 64% |
| Pender County, NC | 29 mi | $80,396 | $1,106/mo | 83% |
| Wayne County, NC | 29 mi | $59,733 | $965/mo | 61% |
| Jones County, NC | 33 mi | $59,641 | $747/mo | 79% |
Towns and communities in Duplin County
12 Census places fall mainly inside Duplin County; the 12 biggest are below. They account for 13,193 residents, leaving about 73% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Kenansville has the highest median household income on the list ($61,364) and Greenevers the lowest ($16,603), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $384 in Kenansville to $925 in Warsaw. None of the 12 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wallace | town | 3,457 | $51,250 | $881 | 14 mi |
| Warsaw | town | 2,746 | $54,297 | $925 | 10 mi |
| Rose Hill | town | 1,309 | $49,375 | $785 | 9 mi |
| Beulaville | town | 1,307 | $37,188 | $644 | 9 mi |
| Kenansville | town | 1,090 | $61,364 | $384 | 3 mi |
| Magnolia | town | 1,024 | $39,406 | $516 | 7 mi |
| Greenevers | town | 648 | $16,603 | $491 | 7 mi |
| Potters Hill | CDP | 595 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Teachey | town | 427 | $51,111 | $888 | 12 mi |
| Calypso | town | 385 | $54,688 | $645 | 18 mi |
| Bowdens | CDP | 122 | $83,153 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Chinquapin | CDP | 83 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Debt-to-income at Duplin County's medians
Duplin County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Duplin County: $4,596
- Rent at the median, $865, takes 19% of that
- $973: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Duplin County's.
Borrowing situations common in Duplin County
Based on the Duplin County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 15% of Duplin County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Vehicle repairs. 24% of Duplin County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 31% of Duplin County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- 20% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
More Duplin County figures
College graduates make up 18% of the adult population. 15.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Duplin County | North Carolina | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.6% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.6% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.0% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.5% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.4% |
| 60+ min | 13.2% |
North Carolina rules that apply in Duplin County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Duplin County, check 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.
Checklist for Duplin County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Duplin County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- 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
Is Duplin County a high-income county?
Its $55,148 median ranks 72nd of 100 North Carolina counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Duplin County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $865 against $1,228 statewide, and 42% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Duplin County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 70% of Duplin County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Duplin County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Wallace, Warsaw, Rose Hill, Beulaville, Kenansville and 7 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Duplin County or elsewhere in North Carolina, the same rules apply.