1st Advantage MortgageAbout 74% of Stanly County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $60,704. 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
- A quick profile of Stanly County
- How much Stanly County households make
- Stanly County housing compared with North Carolina
- Jobs and commutes in Stanly County
- How Stanly County compares with nearby counties
- Places inside Stanly County
- Room for a loan payment in Stanly County
- Local borrowing considerations for Stanly County
- Who lives in Stanly County, in numbers
- Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
- A Stanly County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Stanly County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Stanly County
Roughly 64,651 residents live in Stanly County, North Carolina, 44th by population among the state's 100 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 395 square miles, that is close to 164 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 11 Census places inside Stanly County, Albemarle leads by population with about 16,762; 9 of the 11 are incorporated.
How much Stanly County households make
At $60,704, the typical Stanly County household income is 8% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 50th among North Carolina's 100 county-level areas.
| Band | Stanly County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.0% | +5.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.6% | +1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.1% | -1.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -5.0 pts |
About 29% of households earn under $35,000, while 28% clear $100,000. Census counts 15.2% of Stanly County residents in poverty, against 13.0% across North Carolina. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.431 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Stanly County housing compared with North Carolina
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $861 in Stanly County versus $1,228 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 49% of renter households here. With a median value of $242,400, a typical Stanly County house costs 4.0 times what the median household earns in a year. 74% of Stanly County households own their home and 26% rent.
| Measure | Stanly County | North Carolina | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $861/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $242,400 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 13% | n/a |
Because most Stanly County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Jobs and commutes in Stanly County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Stanly County residents work in education and health care and 16% in manufacturing. Manufacturing stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Stanly County averages 4.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). Long commutes are common here: 24% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Stanly County | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.2% | -1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.2% | +4.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | +0.4 pts |
| Construction | 10.6% | +3.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.8% | -3.8 pts |
| Other services | 6.7% | +1.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How Stanly County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (18 to 33 miles). 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Stanly County; Union County is highest at $102,900 and Anson County lowest at $47,302.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanly County | - | $60,704 | $861/mo | 74% |
| Cabarrus County, NC | 18 mi | $89,005 | $1,414/mo | 71% |
| Montgomery County, NC | 19 mi | $57,766 | $766/mo | 75% |
| Anson County, NC | 25 mi | $47,302 | $814/mo | 69% |
| Union County, NC | 27 mi | $102,900 | $1,496/mo | 82% |
| Rowan County, NC | 27 mi | $65,725 | $1,013/mo | 72% |
| Mecklenburg County, NC | 33 mi | $87,005 | $1,627/mo | 55% |
Places inside Stanly County
The table lists the 11 largest of 11 Census places in Stanly County, by population. Together all 11 hold about 29,369 people, so roughly 55% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $84,464 at the median in Millingport, $46,881 in Albemarle. No Stanly County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 11.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albemarle | city | 16,762 | $46,881 | $880 | 5 mi |
| Oakboro | town | 2,683 | $69,100 | $1,057 | 7 mi |
| Norwood | town | 2,433 | $51,639 | $919 | 10 mi |
| Badin | town | 2,184 | $53,145 | $975 | 10 mi |
| Stanfield | town | 1,522 | $79,250 | $825 | 11 mi |
| Richfield | town | 937 | $70,750 | $1,060 | 11 mi |
| Red Cross | town | 903 | $64,500 | $711 | 7 mi |
| Misenheimer | village | 659 | $60,417 | $806 | 12 mi |
| New London | town | 608 | $61,875 | $1,234 | 9 mi |
| Millingport | CDP | 522 | $84,464 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Aquadale | CDP | 156 | $69,063 | n/a | 6 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Room for a loan payment in Stanly County
Here is the Stanly County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Stanly County: $5,059
- Less median rent of $861, which is 17% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $960 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Local borrowing considerations for Stanly County
Where the Stanly County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Long drives. With 24% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Stanly County budgets.
- 49% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Who lives in Stanly County, in numbers
20% of Stanly County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 9.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Stanly County | North Carolina | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.9% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.5% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.0% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Stanly County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.2% |
| 60+ min | 11.8% |
Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
Stanly County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on North Carolina: North Carolina personal loans.
A Stanly County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Stanly County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for North Carolina borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Stanly County
For statewide rules and data, see the North Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stanly County a high-income county?
Its $60,704 median ranks 50th of 100 North Carolina counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Stanly County?
$861 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
Does this page cover Albemarle?
Yes, along with the other 10 Census places in Stanly County, such as Oakboro, Norwood, Badin.
Is the fit check different in Stanly County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Stanly County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In North Carolina it is the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks.