The Town FilesHamlet, North Carolina
City in Richmond County · population 6,025 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $112,600
- Household income
- $41,590
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 39.5
Hamlet is a city of 6,025 people in Richmond County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $112,600, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 90% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 88% of North Carolina towns, more of a college town than 79% of North Carolina towns.
How Hamlet ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hamlet is worth $112,600, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $41,590, which is more affordable than 87% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $640 a month. 52.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hamlet | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $112,600 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $640 | $969 |
| Median household income | $41,590 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 52.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.0% | — |
Who lives in Hamlet
| People | Hamlet | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.6% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.3% | 89.5% |
Weather in Hamlet
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 32.6°F. About 49.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 70 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 71 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hamlet since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 29, 1964 about 1.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 14, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 3, 2003.
Severe weather in Richmond County since 1996
Richmond County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Richmond County
Richmond County had 14,036 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,814 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Hamlet itself the ACS puts it at 8.7%.
Public schools in Hamlet
5 public schools with 2,061 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairview Heights Elementary | PK-5 | 495 | 15.0 |
| Richmond 9th Grade Academy | 9-9 | 488 | 20.3 |
| Hamlet Middle | 6-8 | 409 | 14.6 |
| Monroe Avenue Elementary | PK-5 | 379 | 14.0 |
| Richmond Early College High | 9-13 | 290 | 29.0 |
Towns near Hamlet
- East Rockingham, NC3.4 mi · 3,471 people · home $111,800
- Rockingham, NC4.4 mi · 9,243 people · home $150,800
- Laurinburg, NC15.9 mi · 14,978 people · home $134,200
- Cheraw, SC17.5 mi · 5,040 people · home $152,200
- Bennettsville, SC18.1 mi · 7,020 people · home $92,100
- Wadesboro, NC21.3 mi · 5,008 people · home $153,200
- Aberdeen, NC23.0 mi · 8,516 people · home $314,900
- Pinehurst, NC24.9 mi · 17,581 people · home $476,600
Hamlet questions
Is Hamlet, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hamlet scores better for retirees than 3% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 12%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Hamlet?
The median owner-occupied home in Hamlet is valued at $112,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,590, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $640 a month.
What is the weather like in Hamlet?
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 32.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Hamlet get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hamlet since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 29, 1964. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)