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Alexander County, NC
4 cities and towns and 3 ZIP codes in Alexander County, North Carolina.
Population
36,412
Land area
260sq mi
People per sq mi
140
ZIP codes
3
Cities and towns in Alexander County
Alexander County at a glance
- Alexander County is 37% less dense than North Carolina as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $65,354 a year, 10% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $211,800 (27% below North Carolina) and median rent is $764 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Bethlehem (4,101), Taylorsville (2,201) and Stony Point (1,372).
Local data for Alexander County, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Alexander County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$65,354
Poverty rate
12.6%
Median home value
$211,800
Prices +7.5% in a year
Median rent
$764/mo
Homeownership
80.7%
Bachelor's or higher
16.7%
Median age
43.8
Average commute
25.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (5,947), Irish Americans (4,236), Mexican Americans (1,298).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
2.9%
Sep 2026, -0.7 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$47,701
8,667 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$53,459
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$241M
FY 2026, $6,623 per person
PPP loans
$37.6M
440 loans, 5,216 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$75.4K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Alexander County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone84.9%
- Carpooled7.8%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.9%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.3%
- Worked from home6.1%
Average one-way commute: 25.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Alexander County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: ice storm
Storm events since 1996
399
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
17
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
87° / 29°F
52.6 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Alexander County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
36.5%
U.S. 33.3% +3.2 pts
Diabetes
12.7%
U.S. 12.1% +0.6 pts
Smoking
16.8%
U.S. 12.8% +4.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
11.1%
U.S. 11.1% about the same
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Alexander County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Alexander County, NC?
- Bethlehem is the largest city or town in Alexander County, with about 4,101 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Alexander County?
- Alexander County includes 3 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 28636, 28678, 28681.
- What is the population of Alexander County, NC?
- About 36,412 people live in Alexander County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Alexander County?
- Alexander County borders Iredell County, Catawba County, Caldwell County, Wilkes County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023