The Town FilesRed Oak, North Carolina
Town in Nash County · population 3,342 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $271,800
- Household income
- $90,214
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 49.5
Red Oak is a town of 3,342 people in Nash County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $271,800, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks quieter than 97% of North Carolina towns, better for retirees than 93% of North Carolina towns, better for families than 91% of North Carolina towns.
How Red Oak 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 Red Oak is worth $271,800, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $90,214, which is more affordable than 80% of North Carolina towns. 96.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Red Oak | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $271,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | — | $969 |
| Median household income | $90,214 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 96.1% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Red Oak
| People | Red Oak | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.2% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 12.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 12.9% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.4% | 89.5% |
Weather in Red Oak
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 30.8°F. About 44.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Red Oak since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 28, 1988 about 9.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 70 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 14, 2026.
Severe weather in Nash County since 1996
Nash County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 Nash County
Nash County had 39,498 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,440 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Red Oak itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Red Oak
2 public schools with 1,495 students, about 18.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Oak Middle | 6-8 | 808 | 19.7 |
| Red Oak Elementary | PK-5 | 687 | 18.1 |
Towns near Red Oak
- Nashville, NC7.0 mi · 5,632 people · home $205,300
- Rocky Mount, NC8.3 mi · 54,341 people · home $165,700
- Lake Royale, NC17.4 mi · 3,392 people · home $280,400
- Tarboro, NC22.2 mi · 10,721 people · home $185,500
- Louisburg, NC22.3 mi · 3,064 people · home $262,500
- Wilson, NC22.8 mi · 47,851 people · home $210,700
- Zebulon, NC28.0 mi · 6,903 people · home $320,700
- South Rosemary, NC29.1 mi · 2,753 people · home $86,800
Red Oak questions
Is Red Oak, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Red Oak scores better for retirees than 93% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 97%. 30.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.5).
How much does a house cost in Red Oak?
The median owner-occupied home in Red Oak is valued at $271,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,214, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Red Oak?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 30.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Red Oak get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Red Oak since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 28, 1988. 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)