The Town FilesRaeford, North Carolina
City in Hoke County · population 4,559 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $201,800
- Household income
- $46,494
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 37.0
Raeford is a city of 4,559 people in Hoke County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $201,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better transit than 99% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 92% of North Carolina towns, better for cycling than 80% of North Carolina towns.
How Raeford 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 Raeford is worth $201,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $46,494, which is more affordable than 32% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $833 a month. 57.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Raeford | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $833 | $969 |
| Median household income | $46,494 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 57.1% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Raeford
| People | Raeford | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 15.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 89.5% |
Weather in Raeford
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 29.7°F. About 48.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.8 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 54 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 82 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Raeford since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 16, 2011 about 9.4 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 91 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 21, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 28, 2014.
Severe weather in Hoke County since 1996
Hoke County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, biological, severe storm.
| 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 Hoke County
Hoke County had 9,046 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,891 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Raeford itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Raeford
11 public schools with 7,247 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoke County High | 9-12 | 2,115 | 18.9 |
| East Hoke Middle | 6-8 | 777 | 15.2 |
| Don D Steed Elementary | PK-5 | 678 | 13.0 |
| Upchurch Elementary | PK-5 | 645 | 15.4 |
| Rockfish Hoke Elementary | PK-5 | 617 | 14.7 |
| West Hoke Middle | 6-8 | 597 | 17.6 |
| Scurlock Elementary | PK-5 | 588 | 14.7 |
| West Hoke Elementary | PK-5 | 459 | 13.9 |
| SandHoke Early College High | 9-13 | 432 | 21.6 |
| J W McLauchlin Elementary | K-5 | 313 | 13.6 |
| J W Turlington School | 6-12 | 26 | 5.2 |
Towns near Raeford
- Rockfish, NC9.1 mi · 3,383 people · home $199,900
- Red Springs, NC12.4 mi · 3,087 people · home $100,800
- Hope Mills, NC15.3 mi · 17,808 people · home $190,600
- Aberdeen, NC15.7 mi · 8,516 people · home $314,900
- Fayetteville, NC16.1 mi · 208,501 people · home $188,000
- Southern Pines, NC17.7 mi · 15,545 people · home $451,100
- Spring Lake, NC19.3 mi · 11,660 people · home $124,000
- Pinehurst, NC19.9 mi · 17,581 people · home $476,600
Raeford questions
Is Raeford, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Raeford scores better for retirees than 53% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 20%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in Raeford?
The median owner-occupied home in Raeford is valued at $201,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,494, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $833 a month.
What is the weather like in Raeford?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 29.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.6 inches of precipitation a year and 2.8 inches of snow.
Does Raeford get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Raeford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 16, 2011. 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)