State rank#23 of 100
Smallest county139,150 residentsWake County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 37085
Harnett County, North Carolina
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population139,150
Household income$71,287
Unemployment3.8%
Life expectancy74.6 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Harnett County has 139,150 residents and ranks #23 by population among North Carolina county equivalents. Median household income is $71,287. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.8%. Its clearest relative strength is median household income. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within North Carolina
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Harnett County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Harnett County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is median household income.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $246,200 median home value and $1,112/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $71,287, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Harnett County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, uninsured, and life expectancy. College attainment is 24.5% and life expectancy is 74.6 years.
Potential advantages
- Median household income: $71,287, rank #22 of 100 available North Carolina counties.
- Uninsured: 11.9%, rank #40 of 100 available North Carolina counties.
- Life expectancy: 74.6 years, rank #45 of 100 available North Carolina counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Primary care access: 1 per 3,675 residents, rank #79 of 98; investigate local variation before moving.
- Mental health access: 1 per 901 residents, rank #75 of 99; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median gross rent: $1,112/mo, rank #74 of 100; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within North Carolina
Rank and range use only counties in North Carolina with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$71,287
$71,287; above the state county median of $60,230.
State rank #22 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$246,200
$246,200; above the state county median of $219,700.
State rank #65 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,112/mo
$1,112/mo; above the state county median of $886/mo.
State rank #74 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3.8%
3.8%; above the state county median of 3.7%.
State rank #56 of 100 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
24.5%
24.5%; above the state county median of 23.5%.
State rank #47 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
74.6 years
74.6 years; above the state county median of 74.2 years.
State rank #45 of 100 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
19.5%
19.5%; above the state county median of 18.9%.
State rank #56 of 100 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
11.9%
11.9%; below the state county median of 12.3%.
State rank #40 of 100 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 3,675 residents
1 per 3,675 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 2,158 residents.
State rank #79 of 98 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 901 residents
1 per 901 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 521 residents.
State rank #75 of 99 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Harnett County FAQ
Is Harnett County a good place to live?
Harnett County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, uninsured, and life expectancy. College attainment is 24.5% and life expectancy is 74.6 years.
What should I know before moving to Harnett County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $246,200 median home value and $1,112/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $71,287, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Harnett County?
Harnett County has 139,150 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Harnett County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 37085; the parent state FIPS is 37.
What is the median household income in Harnett County?
The ACS median household income is $71,287.
How much does housing cost in Harnett County?
Housing benchmarks are $246,200 median home value and $1,112/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $71,287, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Harnett County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.8%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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