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Gates County, NC
2 cities and towns and 7 ZIP codes in Gates County, North Carolina.
Population
10,376
Land area
341sq mi
People per sq mi
30
ZIP codes
7
Cities and towns in Gates County
Gates County at a glance
- Gates County is 86% less dense than North Carolina as a whole.
- The median household income is $66,333, 8% below the North Carolina median of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $170,800 (41% below North Carolina) and median rent is $1,143 a month.
- Its largest cities are Gatesville (320) and Sunbury (251).
Local data for Gates County, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Gates County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$66,333
Poverty rate
9.4%
Median home value
$170,800
Prices +8.8% in a year
Median rent
$1,143/mo
Homeownership
80.9%
Bachelor's or higher
10.9%
Median age
47.6
Average commute
41.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (706), Irish Americans (687), Italian Americans (214).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.6%
Aug 2026, -0.5 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$46,065
1,428 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$55,934
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$87.7M
FY 2026, $8,374 per person
PPP loans
$5.4M
157 loans, 700 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$10.9K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Gates County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone83.6%
- Carpooled10.3%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.4%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.3%
- Worked from home4.5%
Average one-way commute: 41.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Gates County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: hurricane
Storm events since 1996
219
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
68
1.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
89° / 29°F
47.9 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone6 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Gates County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
39.0%
U.S. 33.3% +5.7 pts
Diabetes
15.8%
U.S. 12.1% +3.7 pts
Smoking
16.6%
U.S. 12.8% +3.8 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
10.1%
U.S. 11.1% -1.0 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Gates County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Gates County, NC?
- Gatesville is the largest city or town in Gates County, with about 320 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Gates County?
- Gates County includes 7 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 27926, 27935, 27937, 27938, 27946.
- What is the population of Gates County, NC?
- About 10,376 people live in Gates County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Gates County?
- Gates County borders Suffolk city, VA, Pasquotank County, Hertford County, Southampton County, VA, Chowan County, Perquimans County, Camden County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023