County profile · North Carolina
Chowan County, NC market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Chowan County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 14,082
- +2.8% since 2020
- Households
- 6,134
- Median household income
- $53,864
- +15.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $235,800
- Jobs located here
- 5,105
- Highest market score
- 62
- Real estate, #495 of 2,229 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Chowan County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Chowan County. 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
An estimated 14,082 people live in Chowan County, in 6,134 households. Population estimates show Chowan County grew 2.8% from 2020 to 2025, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Chowan County is $53,864 a year, 33% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 15.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Chowan County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 120, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (64).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Chowan County are for real estate businesses (62), real estate agents and brokers (61) and gas stations (61). Chowan County ranks #495 of 2,229 scored counties for real estate businesses.
For its number of households, Chowan County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for fast food and sandwich shops (35% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for sit-down restaurants (36% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Chowan County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Chowan County with other counties 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 counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real estate | 62 | #495 of 2,229 | 9 | 14.7 | Index only | 220 | 7 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 61 | #516 of 2,176 | 8 | 13.0 | Index only | 197 | 4 |
| Gas stations | 61 | #695 of 2,358 | 5 | 8.2 | $3.4M | 142 | 8 |
| Auto repair shops | 60 | #735 of 2,378 | 11 | 17.9 | $475K | 107 | 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 60 | #803 of 2,402 | 11 | 17.9 | $3.1M | 92 | 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 58 | #807 of 2,405 | 24 | 39.1 | $863K | 130 | 10 |
| Auto repair and car care | 57 | #893 of 2,401 | 20 | 32.6 | $261K | 97 | 4 |
| Hair salons | 53 | #1,007 of 2,339 | 10 | 16.3 | $496K | 115 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 53 | #1,009 of 2,272 | 9 | 14.7 | $1.6M | 128 | 7 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 53 | #1,048 of 2,405 | 49 | 79.9 | $423K | 114 | 25 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 52 | #793 of 1,771 | 8 | 13.0 | $1M | 62 | 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 51 | #694 of 1,493 | 5 | 8.2 | $1.7M | 57 | 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 51 | #974 of 2,063 | 5 | 8.2 | $4.1M | 112 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 49 | #1,158 of 2,261 | 6 | 9.8 | $5.7M | 73 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 48 | #1,142 of 2,057 | 8 | 13.0 | $2M | 83 | 9 |
| Pizza | 46 | #1,184 of 2,090 | 5 | 8.2 | $4.1M | 81 | 12 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 38 | #1,813 of 2,385 | 23 | 37.5 | $216K | 101 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 37 | #1,585 of 2,088 | 7 | 11.4 | $550K | 83 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 35 | #1,382 of 1,707 | 7 | 11.4 | $2.3M | 48 | 5 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 34 | #1,733 of 2,210 | 15 | 24.5 | $706K | 80 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 33 | #1,631 of 2,087 | 12 | 19.6 | $883K | 69 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 33 | #1,758 of 2,222 | 11 | 17.9 | $1.9M | 62 | 12 |
| Child care and preschools | 29 | #1,361 of 1,611 | 5 | 8.2 | $488K | 49 | 5 |
| Spas and skin care | 26 | #1,625 of 1,769 | 8 | 13.0 | $620K | 71 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 21 | #1,535 of 1,656 | 6 | 9.8 | $1M | 58 | 27 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 21 | #2,280 of 2,394 | 58 | 94.6 | $108K | 71 | 32 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.5 | $5.2M | 125 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.5 | $963K | 74 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.5 | $1.6M | 50 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.5 | $1.2M | 139 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.9 | $1.7M | 88 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.9 | $2.1M | 87 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.9 | $324K | 48 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.9 | $11.5M | 124 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.9 | $1.7M | 70 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.3 | $3.1M | Too few | 5 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.3 | $4.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.3 | $2.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.3 | $2.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.3 | $1.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $5.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $10.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $10.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $3.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $8.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $4.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $6.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | Index only | Too few | 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $16M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $6.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 4 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Chowan County
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 | $5.2M | $851 | 89 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $16.9M | $2,752 | 106 |
| Food away from home | $20.7M | $3,376 | 83 |
| Groceries | $34.5M | $5,618 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $5M | $808 | 80 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.4M | $398 | 69 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $3.9M | $628 | 64 |
| Medical and dental services | $6.2M | $1,017 | 79 |
| Pets | $4.9M | $796 | 88 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $10.6M | $1,727 | 84 |
| Vehicle insurance | $14.4M | $2,351 | 120 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $16M | $2,617 | 87 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $8.3M | $1,352 | 96 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $85.9M | $14,001 | 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 Chowan County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 14,082+2.8% since 2020
- Households
- 6,134
- Median age
- 48.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 71%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 173 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 80
- Median household income
- $53,864+15.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $78,897
- Median home value
- $235,800
- Jobs located here
- 5,105
- Daytime population
- 13,003Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Chowan County?
These figures cover the whole county. 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 Chowan County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Carolina 8
- Perquimans County, NC13,244 people
- Washington County, NC10,812 people
- Bertie County, NC17,170 people
- Gates County, NC10,376 people
- Pasquotank County, NC40,834 people
- Tyrrell County, NC3,423 people
- Hertford County, NC19,908 people
- Camden County, NC10,927 people
Questions
How fast is Chowan County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Chowan County at 14,082 people in 2025, up 2.8% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 6,134 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 15.8%, before inflation.
How much do households in Chowan County, NC spend?
Households in Chowan County spend about $85.9M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $34.5M on groceries and $20.7M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Chowan County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 120, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (64).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Chowan County, NC?
Of the business types scored in Chowan County, real estate businesses (62), real estate agents and brokers (61) and gas stations (61) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For real estate businesses, that ranks #495 of 2,229 scored counties.
How does Chowan County, NC compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Chowan County is $53,864, 33% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 2.8% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $235,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for fast food and sandwich shops (35% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for sit-down restaurants (36% 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. 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. 26 of the 56 business types have a score in Chowan County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Chowan County. 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.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Chowan County?
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 Chowan County. 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.