1st Advantage MortgageWarren County households have a median income of $50,638 and median rent of $790 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Getting oriented in Warren County
- What Warren County households earn
- The Warren County job picture
- What it costs to live in Warren County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Warren County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- A Warren County household budget, worked through
- Warren County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Warren County
- Four steps for Warren County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Warren County
- More guides for Warren County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Warren County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Warren County's population at 18,795; only 82 of North Carolina's 100 county-level areas are larger. It covers 429 square miles of land, or about 44 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 3 Census places inside Warren County, Norlina leads by population with about 1,087; 3 of the 3 are incorporated.
What Warren County households earn
Warren County households have a median income of $50,638 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 83rd of 100 in North Carolina.
| Band | Warren County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.8% | +14.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | +0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.0% | -9.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.1% | -5.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 20% of Warren County households make $100,000 or more, and 38% make less than $35,000. Census counts 21.1% of Warren County residents in poverty, against 13.0% across North Carolina. For a borrower in Warren County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
The Warren County job picture
The biggest employer of Warren County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by manufacturing (16%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 16% locally and 12% for North Carolina. The survey's unemployment rate for Warren County averages 7.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). Long commutes are common here: 21% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Warren County workers | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.6% | -1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.3% | +4.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.4% | +2.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.5% | +4.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -5.5 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
What it costs to live in Warren County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $790 in Warren County versus $1,228 statewide. By the Census definition, 53% of Warren County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $154,200, a typical Warren County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 69%. Median construction year: 1988.
| Cost | Warren County | North Carolina figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $790/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $154,200 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 40.8% | 11.0% | 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.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Warren County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Warren County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 1,925 people, so roughly 90% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 3 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norlina | town | 1,087 | $27,143 | $747 | 6 mi |
| Warrenton | town | 772 | $43,750 | $716 | 3 mi |
| Macon | town | 66 | $58,750 | n/a | 3 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 31 miles). Income ranges from $45,590 in Halifax County to $74,240 in Franklin County; 4 of these neighbors top Warren County's median. The list crosses into Virginia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warren County | - | $50,638 | $790/mo | 69% |
| Vance County, NC | 17 mi | $50,465 | $883/mo | 60% |
| Franklin County, NC | 24 mi | $74,240 | $1,083/mo | 79% |
| Mecklenburg County, VA | 25 mi | $57,045 | $823/mo | 68% |
| Halifax County, NC | 27 mi | $45,590 | $813/mo | 63% |
| Brunswick County, VA | 29 mi | $53,084 | $834/mo | 74% |
| Nash County, NC | 31 mi | $62,426 | $953/mo | 64% |
A Warren County household budget, worked through
Warren County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,220 before taxes
- Median rent: $790, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 36% cap, $1,519 total minus rent leaves $729
Two-income households and single earners in Warren County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Warren County households compared
19% of Warren County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 11% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Warren County | North Carolina | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.6 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.9% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.8% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.8% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.6% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.1% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.2% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Warren County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.9% |
| 60+ min | 10.4% |
Local borrowing considerations for Warren County
Based on the Warren County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Warren County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Vehicle repairs. 21% of Warren County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 41% of Warren County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 50, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
Four steps for Warren County borrowers
Quick steps for Warren County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A North Carolina license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Lender oversight for Warren County
The North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks is the place to verify any lender's North Carolina license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The North Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Warren County
The North Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Warren County earn?
The median is $50,638; 20% earn $100,000 or more and 38% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Warren County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $790 a month; 53% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Warren County?
By population: Norlina, Warrenton, Macon. The county has 3 Census places in all.
Can Warren County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every North Carolina county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Warren County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In North Carolina it is the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks.