In North Carolina, Columbus county ranks 97th in poverty and Bladen is 100th. Health outcomes are similarly low; Bladen is 99th in clinical care and 93rd in overall health outcomes.  Columbus County is 94th in health outcomes and 99th in length of life.  The North Carolina Department of Commerce ranks both counties as “Tier 1” in Distress Rankings, which measure the economic, workforce and infrastructure levels, indicating that they are among the most distressed counties in the state.  There are 2,172 veterans in Bladen county, and 3,657 in Columbus County.  Some 40 percent of the population are ethnic minorities.

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Senior citizens make up more than 20 percent of the population.  Nearly 14 percent of the non-seniors have a disability. About 20 percent are under age 18. Average household size is 2.4 persons, and median household income is about $37,000 per year.  Per capita income is about $23,000. 

More than 80 percent have a high school diploma: just 15% have a Bachelors degree or higher.