The Town FilesKannapolis, North Carolina
City in Cabarrus County · population 53,114 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $276,400
- Household income
- $73,836
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 36.9
Kannapolis is a city of 53,114 people in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $276,400, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more walkable than 94% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 89% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 87% of North Carolina towns.
How Kannapolis 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 Kannapolis is worth $276,400, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $73,836, which is more affordable than 52% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,319 a month. 65.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kannapolis | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $276,400 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,319 | $969 |
| Median household income | $73,836 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 65.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Kannapolis
| People | Kannapolis | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.7% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.6% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.6% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 89.5% |
Weather in Kannapolis
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 28.9°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 61 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 74 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kannapolis since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on February 6, 2020 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 7, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 66 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 7, 1998.
Severe weather in Cabarrus County since 1996
Cabarrus County has been included in 19 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 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Cabarrus County
Cabarrus County had 87,725 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,529 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Kannapolis itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Kannapolis
11 public schools with 7,578 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| A L Brown High | 9-12 | 1,776 | 19.3 |
| Kannapolis Middle | 6-8 | 1,171 | 15.6 |
| Charles E Boger Elementary | PK-5 | 887 | 16.1 |
| Concord Lake STEAM Academy (charter) | K-8 | 708 | 22.1 |
| Royal Oaks Elementary | K-8 | 598 | 13.9 |
| GW Carver Elementary | K-5 | 494 | 14.5 |
| Forest Park Elementary | K-5 | 476 | 13.6 |
| Jackson Park Elementary | K-5 | 435 | 15.0 |
| Fred L Wilson Elementary | K-5 | 432 | 16.0 |
| Shady Brook Elementary | K-5 | 311 | 13.5 |
| North Kannapolis Elementary | PK-5 | 290 | 9.7 |
Towns near Kannapolis
- Enochville, NC3.0 mi · 2,893 people · home $265,700
- Landis, NC5.2 mi · 3,690 people · home $252,100
- Concord, NC6.1 mi · 105,240 people · home $353,700
- China Grove, NC7.6 mi · 4,434 people · home $225,800
- Davidson, NC9.8 mi · 15,106 people · home $687,700
- Harrisburg, NC11.9 mi · 18,967 people · home $478,000
- Mooresville, NC12.4 mi · 50,193 people · home $390,900
- Cornelius, NC13.2 mi · 31,412 people · home $559,400
Kannapolis questions
Is Kannapolis, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kannapolis scores better for retirees than 23% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 9%. 14.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.9).
How much does a house cost in Kannapolis?
The median owner-occupied home in Kannapolis is valued at $276,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,836, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,319 a month.
What is the weather like in Kannapolis?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 28.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 3.3 inches of snow.
Does Kannapolis get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kannapolis since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on February 6, 2020. 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)