Census ACS 5-Year · 18 metrics compared
Pennsylvania vs North Carolina
Pennsylvania and North Carolina compared across 18 demographic and economic metrics. The two are closely matched across the board.
6
Pennsylvania wins
6
North Carolina wins
| Metric | Pennsylvania | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,986,518 | 10,584,340 |
| Median Age | 40.9 | 39.1 |
| Median Household Income | $76,081 | $69,904 |
| Per Capita Income | $43,104 | $39,616 |
| Poverty Rate | 8.1% | 9.4% |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% | 3.0% |
| Median Home Value | $240,500 | $259,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,162 | $1,162 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.3% | 66.4% |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 34.5% | 34.7% |
| High School+ | 91.9% | 89.7% |
| Work From Home | 13.8% | 14.5% |
| Avg Commute (min) | 26.6 | 25.1 |
| White | 75.8% | 63.3% |
| Hispanic | 0.9% | 2.3% |
| Black | 10.7% | 20.6% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Foreign Born | 19.7% | 35.7% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Pennsylvania has a population of 12,986,518 compared to North Carolina's 10,584,340.
Across the metrics compared, Pennsylvania leads in 6 categories while North Carolina leads in 6. However, "better" depends on what matters most to you, income, cost of living, education, climate, and personal preferences all play a role.
All data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates by the US Census Bureau.
Comparison based on American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Green highlighting indicates the "better" value where applicable (higher income is better, lower poverty is better, etc.). Race and ethnicity metrics are not highlighted as there is no "better" value.
The side-by-side above pulls the the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files data for both Pennsylvania and North Carolina. What follows is the interpretation — which specific axes carry the most weight for Pennsylvania versus North Carolina, and which differences are large enough to influence a real decision.
For households or analysts using this comparison as a decision input, the right framing is usually not "which is better" in aggregate but "which is better for the specific decision in front of you." the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files captures the raw data; the framing depends on whether the question is investment, residency, planning, or research.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.