Small-town market profile · North Carolina
Albemarle, NC area market data
How the Albemarle area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 68,830
- +9.8% since 2020
- Households
- 25,240
- Median household income
- $60,704
- +15.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $242,400
- Jobs located here
- 23,648
- Highest market score
- 87
- Insurance agencies, #24 of 537 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Albemarle area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Albemarle area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Albemarle area has an estimated 68,830 people and 25,240 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the Albemarle area grew 9.8%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the Albemarle area is $60,704, 25% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 15.4%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Albemarle area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 147, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (61).
Of the business types scored in the Albemarle area, insurance agencies (87), funeral homes (83) and pet stores (80) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #24 of 537 scored small-town markets.
The Albemarle area is made up of one county, Stanly County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (93% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (41% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Albemarle area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Albemarle area with other small-town markets for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 87 | #24 of 537 | 26 | 10.3 | $2.8M | 223 | 23 |
| Funeral homes | 83 | #20 of 365 | 7 | 2.8 | $567K | 84 | 4 |
| Pet stores | 80 | #15 of 220 | 5 | 2.0 | $4M | 89 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | 79 | #12 of 288 | 6 | 2.4 | $10.9M | 129 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | 79 | #22 of 398 | 8 | 3.2 | $2.5M | 92 | 6 |
| Car washes and detailing | 78 | #24 of 441 | 9 | 3.6 | $2.9M | 114 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | 73 | #41 of 400 | 6 | 2.4 | $4.3M | 178 | 7 |
| House cleaning | 69 | #25 of 142 | 6 | 2.4 | $5.7M | 88 | 11 |
| Chiropractors | 67 | #80 of 426 | 11 | 4.4 | $2.3M | 98 | 3 |
| Gas stations | 66 | #109 of 536 | 53 | 21.0 | $1.6M | 67 | 34 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 65 | #91 of 387 | 10 | 4.0 | $2.6M | 84 | 6 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 65 | #137 of 536 | 40 | 15.8 | $1.1M | 122 | 12 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 64 | #150 of 536 | 29 | 11.5 | $1.5M | 117 | 12 |
| Convenience stores | 62 | #161 of 529 | 26 | 10.3 | $5.5M | 70 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 60 | #171 of 526 | 22 | 8.7 | $1.2M | 119 | 12 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 59 | #175 of 529 | 27 | 10.7 | $3.2M | 85 | 9 |
| Spas and skin care | 58 | #167 of 504 | 18 | 7.1 | $1.1M | 130 | 4 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 57 | #146 of 400 | 9 | 3.6 | $2.9M | 91 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | 57 | #167 of 431 | 15 | 5.9 | $1.7M | 69 | 5 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 57 | #180 of 507 | 24 | 9.5 | $3.6M | 86 | 9 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 57 | #220 of 538 | 62 | 24.6 | $2.3M | 68 | 15 |
| Pet businesses | 56 | #202 of 527 | 35 | 13.9 | $573K | 65 | 12 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 55 | #216 of 538 | 236 | 93.5 | $361K | 97 | 113 |
| Home repair trades | 54 | #218 of 526 | 29 | 11.5 | $2.3M | 93 | 62 |
| Real estate | 53 | #231 of 536 | 57 | 22.6 | Index only | 143 | 32 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 52 | #179 of 378 | 9 | 3.6 | $1.7M | 83 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 52 | #214 of 454 | 12 | 4.8 | $779K | 78 | 24 |
| Pizza | 52 | #234 of 520 | 22 | 8.7 | $3.9M | 76 | 51 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 52 | #258 of 538 | 183 | 72.5 | $140K | 92 | 50 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 52 | #263 of 537 | 35 | 13.9 | $2.4M | 80 | 51 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 51 | #190 of 387 | 14 | 5.5 | $1.4M | 56 | 6 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 50 | #55 of 112 | 5 | 2.0 | $3M | 74 | 11 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 50 | #265 of 538 | 131 | 51.9 | $650K | 98 | 53 |
| Auto repair shops | 50 | #287 of 538 | 74 | 29.3 | $350K | 79 | 31 |
| Auto repair and car care | 49 | #286 of 538 | 132 | 52.3 | $196K | 73 | 40 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 48 | #295 of 533 | 51 | 20.2 | Index only | 127 | 22 |
| Hair salons | 48 | #304 of 538 | 60 | 23.8 | $340K | 79 | 8 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 47 | #221 of 399 | 20 | 7.9 | $1.7M | 58 | 35 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 46 | #274 of 481 | 29 | 11.5 | $1.2M | 70 | 52 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 45 | #284 of 458 | 23 | 9.1 | $1.1M | 63 | 28 |
| Barbershops | 44 | #231 of 377 | 15 | 5.9 | $1.4M | 72 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | 43 | #334 of 506 | 15 | 5.9 | $1M | 77 | 11 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 43 | #359 of 535 | 29 | 11.5 | $520K | 78 | 11 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 42 | #317 of 476 | 20 | 7.9 | $3.3M | 69 | 39 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 42 | #369 of 538 | 109 | 43.2 | $187K | 88 | 18 |
| Grocery stores | 41 | #349 of 506 | 27 | 10.7 | $5.3M | 57 | 13 |
| Nail salons | 40 | #267 of 387 | 15 | 5.9 | $1.4M | 82 | 6 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 6 | 2.4 | $4.3M | 31 | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.2 | $14.3M | 92 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.2 | $21.8M | 182 | 23 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.2 | $14.3M | 115 | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.2 | $11.3M | 111 | 6 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.2 | Index only | 211 | 4 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Albemarle area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $25.9M | $1,026 | 107 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $84.8M | $3,359 | 129 |
| Food away from home | $85.2M | $3,376 | 83 |
| Groceries | $142.7M | $5,653 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $20.4M | $809 | 81 |
| Child care and other personal services | $9.3M | $370 | 64 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $15.1M | $597 | 61 |
| Medical and dental services | $25.7M | $1,017 | 79 |
| Pets | $20M | $794 | 87 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $43M | $1,704 | 83 |
| Vehicle insurance | $72.8M | $2,883 | 147 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $65.5M | $2,596 | 86 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $33.9M | $1,344 | 95 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $352.1M | $13,949 | 84 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Albemarle area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 68,830+9.8% since 2020
- Households
- 25,240
- Median age
- 41.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 74%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.2
- Land area
- 395 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 164
- Median household income
- $60,704+15.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $78,208
- Median home value
- $242,400
- Jobs located here
- 23,648
- Daytime population
- 57,304Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Albemarle area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Albemarle area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Albemarle area 1
- Stanly County, NC64,651 people
Other markets based in North Carolina 12
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area2,768,407 people
- Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area1,487,302 people
- Greensboro-High Point, NC metro area786,419 people
- Winston-Salem, NC metro area689,766 people
- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area601,724 people
- Wilmington, NC metro area453,347 people
- Asheville, NC metro area414,711 people
- Fayetteville, NC metro area392,380 people
- Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area368,316 people
- Jacksonville, NC metro area207,906 people
- Greenville, NC metro area177,193 people
- Burlington, NC metro area176,893 people
Questions
How fast is the Albemarle, NC area growing?
Population estimates put the Albemarle area at 68,830 people in 2025, up 9.8% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 25,240 households. Median household income rose 15.4% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Albemarle, NC area spend?
Households in the Albemarle area spend about $352.1M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $142.7M on groceries and $85.2M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Albemarle area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 147, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (61).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Albemarle, NC area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Albemarle area are for insurance agencies (87), funeral homes (83) and pet stores (80). The Albemarle area ranks #24 of 537 scored small-town markets for insurance agencies.
How does the Albemarle, NC area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Albemarle area is $60,704 a year, 25% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 9.8% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $242,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Albemarle area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (93% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (41% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 47 of the 56 business types have a score in the Albemarle area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Albemarle area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in North Carolina · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Albemarle area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Albemarle area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.