The town is named for two rivers that converge nearby, the Mayo and the Dan, and, according to Ripley's Believe It or Not!, is the only town in the world with this name.[5]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2); 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) of the area is land and 0.66% is water.
Mayodan is located near the confluence of the Mayo and Dan Rivers.
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,418 people, 1,170 households, and 671 families residing in the town.
2010 census
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 2,478 people, 1,173 households, and 651 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,608.8 inhabitants per square mile (621.2/km2). There were 1,268 housing units at an average density of 844.0 per square mile (325.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 85.85% White, 10.38% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 2.57% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.01% of the population.
There were 1,173 households, out of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 38.6% were married couples living together; 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present; and 44.5% were non-families. 41.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.78 people.
The population's age distribution was broad: 19.3% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.7 males.
The median income for a household in Mayodan was $25,980, and the median income for a family was $36,328. Males had a median income of $25,878 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,607. 16.0% of the population and 11.3% of families were below the poverty line. 20.5% of those under the age of 18 and 17.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
