1st Advantage MortgageIn Bladen County, North Carolina, the median household earns $42,422 a year and 69% of homes are owner-occupied. Before borrowing here, test the new payment against your debt-to-income ratio, compare APR and total cost on at least three written offers, and confirm the lender is licensed in North Carolina.
On this page
- The basics on Bladen County
- Work and pay in Bladen County
- Residents and homes in Bladen County
- Budget math at the median in Bladen County
- Borrowing takeaways for Bladen County
- How Bladen County compares
- About Bladen County
- A Bladen County borrower checklist
- Bladen County communities by size
- What kind of homes Bladen County has
- Bladen County income ladder
- Neighbors of Bladen County: people and schooling
- Bladen County's outlier numbers
- Frequently asked questions
The basics on Bladen County
These are Census Bureau estimates (ACS, 2020 to 2024) for Bladen County, North Carolina. A place average is context, while your finances are what a lender reads.
Work and pay in Bladen County
In Bladen County, 23% of employed residents work in education and health care, 12% in retail and 12% in manufacturing. Agriculture and mining stands out: 8% of Bladen County workers, versus 2% for the median place we cover.
At the top of the scale, 4% of Bladen County households earn $200,000 or more; at the bottom, 42% earn under $35,000. That is 7 points below the Carolina county median on six-figure households and 13 above it on households under $35,000.
Residents and homes in Bladen County
On education and age, Bladen County shows 19% of adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher and a median age of 44.7. That makes Bladen County 2.5 years older than the middle place in our Carolina county set, with a degree share 4 points lower.
Homes in Bladen County are 62% single-family detached, 3% in buildings of five or more units and 32% mobile or manufactured. That is -6 points against the Carolina county median on detached houses and -1 on large buildings. Match the loan amount to a written estimate or quote rather than to what a lender is willing to offer.
Budget math at the median in Bladen County
Monthly math for a typical Bladen County household: $3,535 before taxes, from a median income of $42,422. After the median rent of $773 (22% of income), the 30% yardstick of $1,061 is not reached. About $1,273 a month is what 36% of median gross income comes to here, a rough ceiling many lenders use for all debts combined. The typical home is priced at 3.2 times the median household income.
Borrowing takeaways for Bladen County
Among Bladen County homeowners who carry a mortgage, 34% spend 30 percent or more of income on housing costs, in the upper third of the 146 Carolina county places we cover. Using equity for anything but essentials adds risk to the home.
Bladen County commutes run long (24% at 45 minutes or more). Before borrowing for a car repair, check whether the car is worth the fix.
Housing in Bladen County is on the older side (median build year 1983). Older homes mean roofs, plumbing, electrical and HVAC work come due, and home improvement loans are common.
How Bladen County compares
Line Bladen County up with the other 146 Carolina county places and you see a median household income of $42,422 (rank 139 of 146), a median gross rent of $773 (rank 117 of 146), and a median home value of $135,100 (rank 120 of 146).
Nearby in size, and also in North Carolina, are Cherokee County ($53,628 income, $813 rent), where Bladen County runs 21% below on income and 5% below on rent and Currituck County ($93,511 income, $1,162 rent), where Bladen County runs 55% below on income and 33% below on rent. Size any payment to your own budget rather than to a neighbor's.
About Bladen County
Largest communities in Bladen County, by 2020 to 2024 population: Elizabethtown, Bladenboro, White Lake, Clarkton (10 Census places in all). If your town has no separate guide, this county page is the closest match; its numbers cover all 10 communities and the countryside.
A Bladen County borrower checklist
- Verify before you share details. The Commissioner of Banks lists licensed consumer finance lenders in North Carolina and accepts complaints.
- Pull your credit reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before lenders look.
- Put the payment through the DTI calculator before you apply anywhere. Lenders set their own limits.
- Sleep on it. Pressure to sign today is a reason to walk away.
- Never pay a fee first. A request for money before funding is the mark of a scam; the scam guide lists the usual scripts.
Bladen County communities by size
Bladen County contains 10 Census places, 7 of them incorporated. Home values differ sharply: $159,200 in Elizabethtown against $99,500 in Bladenboro.
| Place | Status | Residents | Share of county | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown | incorporated town | 3,277 | 11.1% | $159,200 |
| Bladenboro | incorporated town | 2,249 | 7.6% | $99,500 |
| White Lake | incorporated town | 970 | 3.3% | $235,300 |
| Clarkton | incorporated town | 740 | 2.5% | $140,100 |
| Kelly | unincorporated (CDP) | 616 | 2.1% | $128,200 |
| East Arcadia | incorporated town | 444 | 1.5% | $128,100 |
| Dublin | incorporated town | 349 | 1.2% | $134,600 |
| White Oak | unincorporated (CDP) | 191 | 0.6% | $407,100 |
| Tar Heel | incorporated town | 69 | 0.2% | $160,000 |
| Butters | unincorporated (CDP) | 62 | 0.2% | n/a |
What kind of homes Bladen County has
Detached single-family houses make up 62% of Bladen County's housing units, compared with 65% across North Carolina. After that, the largest category is mobile home at 32%. Housing type matters for repair costs in Bladen County: manufactured homes, older detached houses and condos each bring different bills.
| Structure type | Bladen County | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family detached | 61.9% | -3.4 pts |
| Townhouse or attached | 0.4% | -4.4 pts |
| 2 to 4 units | 2.9% | -1.8 pts |
| 5 to 19 units | 2.1% | -6.1 pts |
| 20 or more units | 1.0% | -5.0 pts |
| Mobile home | 31.6% | +20.7 pts |
Bladen County income ladder
Eight income steps for Bladen County: the largest group, 18% of households, is in the Under $15,000 band. The 20% of households above $100,000 are not immune: big incomes often come with big fixed costs.
| Income band | County share | Compared with state |
|---|---|---|
| Under $15,000 | 18.4% | +9.7 pts |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 11.2% | +4.2 pts |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 12.7% | +5.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 12.9% | +1.2 pts |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 13.6% | -3.2 pts |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 11.6% | -1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 12.5% | -4.2 pts |
| $150,000 or more | 7.0% | -11.7 pts |
Neighbors of Bladen County: people and schooling
Five neighbors within 37 miles, compared on age, schooling and poverty rather than money alone. The most educated is Pender County at 31% with a bachelor's degree.
| Nearby Carolina county | Miles | Residents | Age (median) | College grads | Below poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bladen County | - | 29,566 | 44.7 | 19% | 22% |
| Columbus County, NC | 24 mi | 50,140 | 42.6 | 15% | 18% |
| Sampson County, NC | 29 mi | 59,470 | 39.7 | 16% | 22% |
| Robeson County, NC | 32 mi | 116,902 | 36.4 | 15% | 27% |
| Cumberland County, NC | 36 mi | 338,545 | 32.0 | 28% | 17% |
| Pender County, NC | 37 mi | 65,550 | 41.6 | 31% | 10% |
Bladen County's outlier numbers
Bladen County ranks furthest from the middle of North Carolina on household income and mobile homes, then poverty.
- Household income puts Bladen County at #4 lowest of 100 among North Carolina counties ($42,422). Free and low-cost help is worth a call first.
- Mobile homes puts Bladen County at #6 of 100 among North Carolina counties (31.6%). Manufactured homes often rule out equity loans.
- Bladen County: 22.0% for poverty, #9 of 100 in North Carolina. Assistance programs should come before credit.
- Bladen County: 20% for six-figure households, #12 lowest of 100 in North Carolina. Smaller loans are the local norm.
| Indicator | Bladen County figure | Rank | Median of 146 NC/SC counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household income | $42,422 | #4 lowest of 100 | $59,717 |
| Mobile homes | 31.6% | #6 of 100 | 19.0% |
| Poverty | 22.0% | #9 of 100 | 15.4% |
| Six-figure households | 20% | #12 lowest of 100 | 26% |
Frequently asked questions
I own my home in Bladen County. Is a personal loan better than a HELOC?
Not always, but it keeps the house out of the deal. With 69% of Bladen County homes owner-occupied, many readers have equity; a HELOC may price lower yet is secured by the home. For a modest, one-time need, an unsecured loan is simpler. Get both quotes in writing.
Will my Bladen County address affect my match?
No. We never score neighborhoods. Bladen County residents are screened on the same four answers as everyone else.
Which North Carolina agency handles lender complaints?
The Commissioner of Banks licenses consumer finance lenders in the state and handles complaints about them. Payday lending is prohibited, so be wary of anyone offering it. Check the license before you share anything, and never pay to get paid.
Is same-day funding realistic in Bladen County?
Sometimes, after full verification, but plan for a few business days. Treat any promise of instant cash for an upfront fee as a scam.