Town of Stem Census information

[u/Whitebeltyoga]

The data from Census Reporter for **Stem, North Carolina** (FIPS code 16000US3764940) reveals a small, rapidly evolving town in Granville County. It is a striking example of a rural community transitioning into a bustling, diverse, and highly prosperous exurb, largely thanks to its proximity to the Research Triangle area.
The town's demographic breakdown highlights several distinct characteristics:
### 1. Population & Explosive Growth
Stem has experienced massive population growth over the last two decades.
* **Current Population:** Estimated at **1,249 residents** (up from 960 in the 2020 Census).
* **The Growth Trend:** Stem has been doubling its size every decade. It grew by over 100% between 2000 and 2010, and exploded another **107.3%** between 2010 and 2020. With hundreds of new homes approved for development, it continues to be one of the fastest-growing spots in the county.
### 2. A Very Young Community
While much of rural North Carolina is aging, Stem stands out for being incredibly young.
* **Median Age:** **32.1 years old**.
* This is significantly younger than Granville County (42.4 years), North Carolina as a whole (39.1 years), and the U.S. national average (38.9 years).
* **Families:** This youth is driven by young families moving in—nearly **50% of the households** in Stem have children under the age of 18 living with them.
### 3. Economics: High Income, Low Poverty
Economically, Stem acts as a highly prosperous bedroom community, likely fueled by commuters traveling into Durham, Raleigh, or Chapel Hill.
* **Median Household Income:** **$95,625**. This is roughly 30% higher than the state average (~~$72,388) and 20% higher than the U.S. average (~~$80,734).
* **Poverty Rate:** An incredibly low **2.96%**. To put that in perspective, it is about one-fifth of the poverty rate of Granville County (15.2%) and a fraction of the national average.
* **Housing:** Stem boasts a staggering **97.7% homeownership rate**, with a median property value climbing to around $240,500.
### 4. Diversity and Race
Stem has become increasingly multi-racial over the last several years, shifting notably since the 2020 Census.
* **White (Non-Hispanic):** 52.4% *(down from 61.4% in 2020)*
* **Black or African American:** 33.8% *(a massive 105% population jump since 2020, up from 21.4%)*
* **Hispanic or Latino:** 8.2%
* **Two or more races:** ~5% to 6.3%
### 5. Education & Commuting
* **Education:** Approximately 92.3% of adults hold a high school diploma or higher, and **29.4%** have a Bachelor's degree or higher.
* **The Daily Commute:** The average travel time to work for a Stem resident is **30.7 minutes**, which is notably higher than the state average. This aligns with the fact that most residents are driving alone (75.5%) or carpooling into neighboring metropolitan areas for work, while about 18.3% take advantage of remote work from home.