County profile · North Carolina
Gates County, NC market data
How Gates County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 10,234
- −2.1% since 2020
- Households
- 4,192
- Median household income
- $66,333
- +30.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $170,800
- Jobs located here
- 1,439
- Highest market score
- 69
- Auto repair shops, #362 of 2,378 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Gates County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Gates 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
Gates County has an estimated 10,234 people and 4,192 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Gates County declined 2.1%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Gates County is $66,333, 18% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 30.7%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Gates County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 156, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (53).
Of the business types scored in Gates County, auto repair shops (69), restaurants and cafes (66) and auto repair and car care businesses (65) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For auto repair shops, that ranks #362 of 2,378 scored counties.
Gates County is part of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for auto repair and car care businesses (20% below the U.S. rate) and lowest for sit-down restaurants (61% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Gates County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Gates 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto repair shops | 69 | #362 of 2,378 | 6 | 14.3 | $742K | 167 | 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 66 | #502 of 2,405 | 20 | 47.7 | $676K | 182 | 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 65 | #523 of 2,401 | 12 | 28.6 | $371K | 138 | 5 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 55 | #927 of 2,405 | 10 | 23.9 | $1.4M | 204 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 53 | #959 of 2,385 | 7 | 16.7 | $469K | 220 | Under 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 53 | #1,028 of 2,394 | 8 | 19.1 | $510K | 334 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 51 | #1,149 of 2,402 | 6 | 14.3 | $3.9M | 115 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 50 | #1,150 of 2,339 | 5 | 11.9 | $656K | 153 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 17 | #2,145 of 2,200 | 7 | 16.7 | $450K | 51 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 9.5 | $3.4M | 82 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 9.5 | $3.7M | 155 | 6 |
| Convenience stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 7.2 | $7.8M | 99 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 7.2 | $254K | 37 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 7.2 | $4.3M | 339 | 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 7.2 | $1M | 41 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 7.2 | $4.5M | 89 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 7.2 | $1M | 39 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.8 | $668K | Too few | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.8 | $6.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.8 | $6.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.8 | $11.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.8 | $1.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $6.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $6.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $4.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $2.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $5.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $5.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $2.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $3.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $4.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $4.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | 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 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | 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 |
| Nail salons | 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 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Real estate | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Gates 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 | $4.5M | $1,062 | 111 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $14.8M | $3,538 | 136 |
| Food away from home | $13.5M | $3,225 | 79 |
| Groceries | $23.4M | $5,577 | 88 |
| Personal care products and services | $3.3M | $783 | 78 |
| Child care and other personal services | $1.3M | $319 | 55 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $2.2M | $526 | 53 |
| Medical and dental services | $4.1M | $973 | 76 |
| Pets | $3.1M | $751 | 83 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $6.8M | $1,613 | 78 |
| Vehicle insurance | $12.8M | $3,048 | 156 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $10.6M | $2,529 | 84 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $5.4M | $1,291 | 91 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $57.1M | $13,626 | 82 |
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 Gates County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 10,234−2.1% since 2020
- Households
- 4,192
- Median age
- 47.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 81%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.3
- Land area
- 341 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 30
- Median household income
- $66,333+30.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $75,387
- Median home value
- $170,800
- Jobs located here
- 1,439
- Daytime population
- 7,594Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Gates 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 Gates 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
- Hertford County, NC19,908 people
- Chowan County, NC13,836 people
- Perquimans County, NC13,244 people
- Pasquotank County, NC40,834 people
- Camden County, NC10,927 people
- Bertie County, NC17,170 people
- Currituck County, NC30,601 people
- Washington County, NC10,812 people
Questions
How fast is Gates County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Gates County at 10,234 people in 2025, down 2.1% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 4,192 households. Median household income rose 30.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Gates County, NC spend?
Households in Gates County spend about $57.1M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $23.4M on groceries and $14.8M on gasoline and other fuels. Set against the U.S., households in Gates County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 156, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (53).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Gates County, NC?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Gates County are for auto repair shops (69), restaurants and cafes (66) and auto repair and car care businesses (65). Gates County ranks #362 of 2,378 scored counties for auto repair shops.
How does Gates County, NC compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Gates County is $66,333 a year, 18% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 2.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $170,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Gates County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for auto repair and car care businesses (20% below the U.S. rate) and the fewest for sit-down restaurants (61% 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. 9 of the 56 business types have a score in Gates 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 Gates 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.
All markets in North Carolina · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Gates 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 Gates 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.