The Town FilesLillington, North Carolina
Town in Harnett County · population 4,735 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $247,200
- Household income
- $81,760
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 37.2
Lillington is a town of 4,735 people in Harnett County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $247,200, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 78% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 72% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 70% of North Carolina towns.
How Lillington 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 Lillington is worth $247,200, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $81,760, which is more affordable than 80% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $997 a month. 63.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lillington | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $247,200 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $997 | $969 |
| Median household income | $81,760 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 63.1% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2005 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lillington
| People | Lillington | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.3% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 9.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in Lillington
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 29.3°F. About 46.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 54 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 77 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lillington since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 23, 1992 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 3, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 1, 2017.
Severe weather in Harnett County since 1996
Harnett 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 Harnett County
Harnett County had 28,081 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,955 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Lillington itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Lillington
5 public schools with 3,343 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Harnett High | 9-12 | 1,343 | 18.4 |
| Western Harnett Middle | 6-8 | 766 | 16.3 |
| Lillington-Shawtown Elementary | PK-5 | 678 | 13.3 |
| Boone Trail Elementary | PK-5 | 533 | 14.4 |
| STAR Academy | 6-12 | 23 | 2.9 |
Towns near Lillington
- Buies Creek, NC3.9 mi · 3,253 people · home $361,500
- Angier, NC7.9 mi · 5,265 people · home $268,200
- Erwin, NC10.0 mi · 4,542 people · home $161,100
- Anderson Creek, NC12.6 mi · 13,636 people · home $282,200
- Dunn, NC13.2 mi · 8,446 people · home $193,900
- Fuquay-Varina, NC13.7 mi · 34,152 people · home $451,500
- Benson, NC15.4 mi · 3,967 people · home $279,800
- Spout Springs, NC16.3 mi · 11,040 people · home $358,500
Lillington questions
Is Lillington, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lillington scores better for retirees than 31% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 30%. 14.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.2).
How much does a house cost in Lillington?
The median owner-occupied home in Lillington is valued at $247,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,760, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $997 a month.
What is the weather like in Lillington?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 29.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 2.1 inches of snow.
Does Lillington get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lillington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 23, 1992. 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)