Fayetteville NC Population 2026: Census Demographics
Fayetteville, NC had an estimated 209,120 residents on July 1, 2025, per the U.S. Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 estimates, up 0.3% since 2020. The city is young, with a 30.6-year median age in the 2020-2024 ACS, has no racial majority, and 16.6% of residents 16 and older serve in the Armed Forces. Cumberland County's 2025 estimate was 338,473.
Fayetteville, NC had an estimated 209,120 residents on July 1, 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 estimates, up 0.3% from its April 2020 estimates base (Census QuickFacts). The 2020 Census counted 208,501 people in the city, and Cumberland County as a whole had an estimated 338,473 residents in 2025 (Census QuickFacts).
Fayetteville NC Population at a Glance
| Measure | Fayetteville city | Cumberland County | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population, July 1, 2025 (V2025 estimate) | 209,120 | 338,473 | 11,197,968 |
| Population, 2020 Census (April 1, 2020) | 208,501 | 334,728 | 10,439,388 |
| Population, 2010 Census (April 1, 2010) | 200,564 | 319,431 | 9,535,483 |
| Change, April 2020 base to July 2025 (V2025) | +0.3% | +1.1% | +7.2% |
| Land area, 2020 (square miles) | 148.26 | 652.56 | 48,623.02 |
| Population per square mile, 2020 | 1,406.3 | 512.9 | 214.7 |
All figures: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts.
Two things stand out. First, Fayetteville grew about 4% between the 2010 and 2020 counts, but the Vintage 2025 series shows the city nearly flat since 2020 while North Carolina grew 7.2%. Second, the city holds roughly 62% of the county's 2025 population on less than a quarter of its land, and the rest of the county includes towns such as Hope Mills and Spring Lake plus unincorporated suburbs. Our guides to Hope Mills and Gray's Creek and Spring Lake and Anderson Creek cover those areas.
Metro area population
The Census Bureau's estimate for the Fayetteville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area was 395,412 on July 1, 2025 (FRED, from Census Bureau metro estimates). The metro figure is the one to use when comparing Fayetteville with other regions, because the city limits do not include large suburban and military-adjacent communities.
Why population estimates differ
Census vintages are revised every year, and the Bureau notes that different vintage years "are not comparable" (Census QuickFacts). Third-party sites often show a different total because they quote an older vintage or a five-year American Community Survey (ACS) figure; the 2020-2024 ACS, for example, puts the city's total population at 210,815 (ACS 2020-2024, table DP05). For a single current number, use the latest July 1 estimate; for characteristics such as income or education, use the ACS five-year tables.
Fayetteville NC Demographics: Age and Sex
Fayetteville is young. The 2020-2024 ACS puts the city's median age at 30.6 years, compared with 32.0 in Cumberland County and 39.1 statewide (ACS 2020-2024, table DP05).
| Age and sex | Fayetteville city | Cumberland County | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age (2020-2024 ACS) | 30.6 | 32.0 | 39.1 |
| Under 5 years (QuickFacts V2025) | 7.6% | 7.1% | 5.6% |
| Under 18 years (QuickFacts V2025) | 23.8% | 24.7% | 21.1% |
| 65 and over (QuickFacts V2025) | 12.9% | 15.0% | 18.9% |
| Female (QuickFacts V2025) | 49.3% | 51.3% | 51.6% |
Sources: ACS 2020-2024; Census QuickFacts.
The city's share of residents 65 and older is about six percentage points below the state's, and women make up 49.3% of residents, below the 51.6% statewide share. Families with young children will find enrollment details in our school enrollment guide.
Race and Ethnicity
| Race and Hispanic origin (QuickFacts V2025) | Fayetteville city | Cumberland County | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black alone | 42.6% | 40.1% | 21.3% |
| White alone | 36.8% | 46.2% | 67.8% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 34.2% | 37.2% | 58.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 13.1% | 14.3% | 12.6% |
| Two or more races | 12.1% | 7.9% | 4.6% |
| Asian alone | 3.1% | 3.0% | 4.2% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 0.9% | 2.4% | 2.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.1% |
Source: Census QuickFacts.
Fayetteville has no racial majority. Its Black share is about twice the statewide figure, and its share of residents reporting two or more races is more than two and a half times the state rate. The 2020-2024 ACS also counts 7.8% of city residents as foreign-born and 14.2% of residents 5 and older as speaking a language other than English at home (Census QuickFacts).
Households, Housing and Mobility
| Household measure (2020-2024 ACS) | Fayetteville city | Cumberland County | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households | 82,689 | 129,758 | 4,282,345 |
| Persons per household | 2.36 | 2.48 | 2.44 |
| Owner-occupied housing rate | 47.4% | 55.0% | 66.6% |
| Median value, owner-occupied home | $188,000 | $199,200 | $288,900 |
| Median gross rent | $1,250 | $1,222 | $1,228 |
| Lived in same house 1 year ago | 79.3% | 82.0% | 87.3% |
Source: Census QuickFacts.
Fayetteville is a renter-majority city: fewer than half of occupied homes are owner-occupied, compared with two-thirds statewide. About one in five residents moved within the previous year, a turnover rate consistent with a city where many households move on military permanent change of station (PCS) orders. For what those numbers mean for a move, see our Fayetteville cost of living guide and off-post housing and BAH guide.
Income, Education and Work
| Economic measure (2020-2024 ACS) | Fayetteville city | Cumberland County | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income (2024 dollars) | $58,407 | $61,291 | $72,388 |
| Per capita income (2024 dollars) | $32,728 | $32,657 | $41,385 |
| High school graduate or higher, age 25+ | 93.5% | 92.9% | 90.1% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher, age 25+ | 29.0% | 27.8% | 35.7% |
| In civilian labor force, age 16+ | 50.2% | 51.7% | 61.5% |
| Mean travel time to work (minutes) | 19.1 | 21.6 | 25.1 |
Source: Census QuickFacts.
The low civilian labor force share is not a sign of unusually high unemployment on its own. The civilian measure excludes active-duty service members, and the 2020-2024 ACS counts 27,390 city residents age 16 and older, or 16.6%, in the Armed Forces, compared with 12.9% in Cumberland County and 1.2% statewide (ACS 2020-2024, table DP03). Fayetteville's high school completion rate also tops the state average. See our major employers guide for where civilians work.
Military and Veteran Population
Fort Bragg shapes the city's age, sex and mobility figures more than any other factor. The Defense Department's Military OneSource installation overview lists 48,775 active-duty soldiers, 70,109 active-duty family members, 27,005 Army retirees and 12,419 federal civilian employees at Fort Bragg (Military OneSource). Those totals cover the whole installation community and do not map onto city limits: many soldiers live on post or in Spring Lake, Hope Mills, Harnett County, Hoke County or Moore County.
The Census Bureau counts 24,545 veterans living in Fayetteville and 40,226 in Cumberland County in the 2020-2024 ACS (Census QuickFacts). Newcomers can start with our Fort Bragg relocation guide and veteran services directory.
How Fayetteville Compares
- Population: about 209,000 people in 2025, roughly 62% of Cumberland County.
- Age: a 30.6-year median age (2020-2024 ACS), more than eight years younger than North Carolina.
- Diversity: no racial majority; Black residents are the largest single group at 42.6%.
- Housing: 47.4% owner-occupied, about 19 points below the state rate.
- Military: 16.6% of residents 16 and older serve in the Armed Forces (2020-2024 ACS).
For neighborhood-level detail, compare areas in our Fayetteville neighborhoods guide and ZIP code guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the population of Fayetteville, NC?
- The U.S. Census Bureau estimated Fayetteville's population at 209,120 on July 1, 2025 (Vintage 2025). The 2020 Census counted 208,501 residents.
- What are the demographics of Fayetteville, NC?
- Census QuickFacts V2025 figures show Fayetteville is 42.6% Black alone, 36.8% White alone, 13.1% Hispanic or Latino and 12.1% two or more races. The city's median age was 30.6 in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
- Is Fayetteville, NC growing?
- Slowly. The Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 estimates show the city up 0.3% from its April 2020 base to July 2025, while Cumberland County grew 1.1% and North Carolina grew 7.2%.
- What is the population of the Fayetteville metro area?
- The Census Bureau estimated the Fayetteville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area at 395,412 residents on July 1, 2025.
- How many soldiers are at Fort Bragg?
- The Defense Department's Military OneSource overview lists 48,775 active-duty soldiers and 70,109 active-duty family members at Fort Bragg. Not all of them live inside Fayetteville city limits.
Additional Resources
- Census QuickFacts: Fayetteville, Cumberland County and North Carolina
Vintage 2025 population estimates, 2020 Census counts and 2020-2024 ACS characteristics side by side.
- ACS 2020-2024 Demographic Profile (DP05), Fayetteville city
Median age and total population from the American Community Survey five-year estimates.
- ACS 2020-2024 Economic Profile (DP03), Fayetteville city
Employment status, including residents in the Armed Forces.
- Military OneSource: Fort Bragg In-Depth Overview
Defense Department figures for active-duty, family member, retiree and civilian populations.
Related Guides
Jobs in Fayetteville, NC: Where to Find Work (2026 Guide)
To find jobs in Fayetteville, NC, go straight to the hiring sources. The City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County post every opening on GovernmentJobs.com, Cape Fear Valley Health hires through its Workday careers portal, and the NCWorks Career Center at 490 N. McPherson Church Road offers free job-search help. Military spouses can use Fort Bragg's Employment Readiness Program at the Soldier Support Center.
Fayetteville NC ZIP Codes: Full List and Map Guide (2026)
Fayetteville, NC uses 13 ZIP codes. Ten carry street delivery: 28301, 28303, 28304, 28305, 28306, 28311, 28312 and 28314, plus 28307 on Fort Bragg and 28308 at Pope Army Airfield. 28302 and 28309 are PO-box-only, and 28310 is Fort Bragg's military-unique ZIP. The most populous is 28314 on the west side, and parts of 28306, 28311 and 28312 lie outside city limits.
Is Fayetteville, NC Safe? Crime Rate and Data (2026)
Fayetteville's crime rates are above state and national averages but fell in 2025. FBI Crime Data Explorer figures show 613.9 violent offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, versus 330.6 statewide, and 2,827.6 property offenses per 100,000, versus 1,810.8 statewide. Both Fayetteville counts dropped about 11% from 2024, and most reported crime is property crime such as larceny.
Fort Bragg Housing Guide 2026: On-Post, Off-Post and BAH
Fort Bragg family housing on post is run by Corvias from 2850 Compass Court, (910) 495-0878, and takes your full BAH as rent with no deposit. Off post, report first to the Housing Services Office at the Soldier Support Center, (910) 396-1022. Fort Bragg BAH is military housing area NC182; check exact 2026 rates in the DTMO calculator.
Fayetteville NC History: Market House, Poe House, Timeline
Fayetteville grew from Cross Creek, settled in 1755, and was renamed in 1783 as the first place in North America honoring Lafayette. North Carolina ratified the Constitution there in 1789, the Market House rose after the 1831 fire, Sherman destroyed the arsenal in 1865, and Camp Bragg opened in 1918. The post, briefly Fort Liberty, became Fort Bragg again in 2025.