The Town Files

Rowan County, North Carolina

149,875 people. The median home is worth $238,400 (typical North Carolina town: $228,900) and the median household earns $65,725.

Towns in Rowan County

Towns in Rowan County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Salisbury35,540$242,500$53,71636.5
China Grove4,434$225,800$54,08339.2
Landis3,690$252,100$75,00040.2
Spencer3,308$201,700$65,46544.2
Granite Quarry2,984$257,300$57,98138.6
Enochville2,893$265,700$66,22538.0

People and housing

Rowan CountyTypical North Carolina town
Median home value$238,400$228,900
Median rent$1,013$969
Median household income$65,725$60,458
Median age40.441.1
Bachelor's degree or higher23.3%24.5%
Below the poverty line16.0%14.3%

Jobs and pay

50,595 jobs in 2024, average pay $57,503 a year.

Largest industries in Rowan CountyManufacturing6,867 jobs · $70,236Retail6,331 jobs · $44,349Health care & social assistan…5,576 jobs · $51,571Hotels & restaurants4,474 jobs · $22,333Transportation & warehousing3,778 jobs · $67,538Construction3,142 jobs · $66,506
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Rowan County0%4%8%12%2000200420082012201620202023 3.4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 609 storm events in Rowan County from 1996 to 2026, with 5 deaths.

Storm events in Rowan County by type since 1996Hail86Flood13Drought35Tornado8High Wind13Lightning13Heavy Snow18Flash Flood29Winter Storm11Winter Weather57
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Rowan County has been included in 21 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3637: Severe Winter Storm
September 28, 2024Tropical StormDR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene
September 26, 2024Tropical StormEM-3617: Hurricane Helene
August 6, 2024Tropical StormEM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby
October 1, 2022HurricaneEM-3586: Hurricane Ian
March 3, 2021Severe StormDR-4588: Tropical Storm Eta
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).