The Town FilesRoanoke Rapids, North Carolina
City in Halifax County · population 15,229 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $142,700
- Household income
- $53,690
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 40.3
Roanoke Rapids is a city of 15,229 people in Halifax County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $142,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more walkable than 99% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 96% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 76% of North Carolina towns.
How Roanoke Rapids 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 Roanoke Rapids is worth $142,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $53,690, which is more affordable than 87% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $858 a month. 49.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Roanoke Rapids | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $142,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $858 | $969 |
| Median household income | $53,690 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 49.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Roanoke Rapids
| People | Roanoke Rapids | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 21.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.4% | 89.5% |
Weather in Roanoke Rapids
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 30.0°F. About 49.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.9 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 70 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Roanoke Rapids since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 28, 1988 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 19, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 14, 2021.
Severe weather in Halifax County since 1996
Halifax County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, 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 Halifax County
Halifax County had 15,156 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,039 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Roanoke Rapids itself the ACS puts it at 8.1%.
Public schools in Roanoke Rapids
7 public schools with 3,269 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke Rapids High School | 9-12 | 819 | 16.7 |
| Manning Elementary School | PK-5 | 653 | 14.8 |
| Chaloner Middle School | 6-8 | 602 | 16.3 |
| Belmont Elementary School | PK-5 | 581 | 13.2 |
| William R Davie Middle S.T.E.M. Academy | 6-8 | 258 | 14.3 |
| Everetts Elementary S.T.E.M. Academy | PK-5 | 248 | 16.5 |
| Roanoke Rapids Early College High | 9-13 | 108 | 21.6 |
Towns near Roanoke Rapids
- South Rosemary, NC3.6 mi · 2,753 people · home $86,800
- Emporia, VA18.4 mi · 5,766 people · home $148,500
Roanoke Rapids questions
Is Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Roanoke Rapids scores better for retirees than 19% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 5%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.3).
How much does a house cost in Roanoke Rapids?
The median owner-occupied home in Roanoke Rapids is valued at $142,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,690, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $858 a month.
What is the weather like in Roanoke Rapids?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 30.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.5 inches of precipitation a year and 3.9 inches of snow.
Does Roanoke Rapids get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Roanoke Rapids 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)