The Town FilesHenderson, North Carolina
City in Vance County · population 15,060 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $123,800
- Household income
- $39,969
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 37.7
Henderson is a city of 15,060 people in Vance County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $123,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more vibrant than 95% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 94% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 80% of North Carolina towns.
How Henderson 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 Henderson is worth $123,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $39,969, which is more affordable than 75% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $848 a month. 38.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Henderson | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $123,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $848 | $969 |
| Median household income | $39,969 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 38.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Henderson
| People | Henderson | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.7% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 20.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.1% | 89.5% |
Weather in Henderson
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 25.8°F. About 48.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.6 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Henderson since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on February 24, 2016 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on February 24, 2016.
Severe weather in Vance County since 1996
Vance County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 Vance County
Vance County had 14,120 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,261 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Henderson itself the ACS puts it at 9.4%.
Public schools in Henderson
17 public schools with 7,316 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henderson Collegiate (charter) | K-12 | 1,319 | 14.7 |
| Vance County High School | 9-12 | 1,046 | 15.4 |
| Vance Charter School (charter) | K-12 | 954 | 15.1 |
| Vance County Middle School | 6-8 | 738 | 16.8 |
| Dabney Elementary | PK-5 | 411 | 18.7 |
| Clarke Elementary | PK-5 | 369 | 17.6 |
| Aycock Elementary | PK-5 | 369 | 15.4 |
| E M Rollins Elementary | PK-5 | 303 | 11.7 |
| STEM Early High | 6-8 | 277 | 16.3 |
| Pinkston Street Elementary | PK-5 | 251 | 15.7 |
| Vance Co Early College | 9-13 | 232 | 25.8 |
| Vance Virtual Village Academy | K-12 | 219 | 24.3 |
Towns near Henderson
- Oxford, NC9.6 mi · 8,628 people · home $196,200
- Louisburg, NC17.0 mi · 3,064 people · home $262,500
- Creedmoor, NC20.2 mi · 4,866 people · home $281,400
- Butner, NC22.5 mi · 8,397 people · home $231,100
- Wake Forest, NC25.6 mi · 47,601 people · home $474,500
- Lake Royale, NC27.9 mi · 3,392 people · home $280,400
- Rolesville, NC28.5 mi · 9,475 people · home $535,000
Henderson questions
Is Henderson, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Henderson scores better for retirees than 5% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 3%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Henderson?
The median owner-occupied home in Henderson is valued at $123,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,969, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $848 a month.
What is the weather like in Henderson?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 25.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1.6 inches of snow.
Does Henderson get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Henderson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on February 24, 2016. 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)