St. Pauls: Demographics & People
2,688 people call St. Pauls home, in 926 households. Population grew 2.3% from 2,628 (2022) to 2,688 (2024). Median age 35.9 years. (0.5y younger than Robeson County; 3.6y younger than North Carolina). Children under 18 are 32% of the population. Population is 36% Hispanic or Latino and 35% White (non-Hispanic). The community is highly diverse (Simpson index 0.65). 56% of households are family-led. County is gaining 1,552 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 42% adult obesity, 25% smoke.
- 2.9 people per household.
- 44% non-family households (singles, roommates).
Population & Trend
Population grew 2.3% from 2,628 (2022) to 2,688 (2024) — about 3.8× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~2,749 (extrapolated at 1.1%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 2,833.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 116,530 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 2.3% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 2,628 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 2,688 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 2,688 people |
| Population Estimate | 2,833 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 35.9y is 3.0 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 32% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 35.9 years (vs North Carolina 39.5y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 31.6% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Population under 18 | 849 |
| Median age | 35.9 years (vs North Carolina 39.5y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 2,688 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.65 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as highly diverse.
| White residents | 1,020 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 590 |
| Asian residents | 7 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 931 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 65.3% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | highly diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 40.0% |
| Asian population | 0.1% |
| Black population | 22.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 36.5% |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 35.4% |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 1.5% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 22% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 1,880 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 168 |
| Share born in this state | 69.9% |
| Share born in another state | 30.1% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 6.3% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.5% |
| Naturalized citizens | 22.4% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 377 |
| From Europe | 8 |
| From Africa | 8 |
Households & Family Composition
926 households. Averaging 2.7 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 56% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 526 families, 21% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 833 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 526 |
| Married couples with children | 113 |
| Single-parent households | 34 |
| Average household size | 2.74 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 9.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 99 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 35 |
| Family households | 515 households |
| Households that are families | 55.6% |
| Total households | 926 households |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 1.7% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 1,552 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 1.7% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 97,615 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 96,063 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 1,552 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 231 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 10.2% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 8 residents live in group quarters (0.3% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 8 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 7 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | NC-07 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 37,155 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 37 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 155 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Robeson |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 34.5% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 31.90 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 37.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 37,155 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Robeson County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 5,047 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 37,155 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Robeson County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 57.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 44.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 34.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 130,625 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 20 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 31.6% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 2,688, growing, family-oriented, working-class, blue collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 2,688 people |
| Town Summary · County | Robeson County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade