The Town FilesRocky Mount, North Carolina
City in Nash County · population 54,341 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $165,700
- Household income
- $55,534
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 40.7
Rocky Mount is a city of 54,341 people in Nash County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $165,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more walkable than 87% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 85% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 83% of North Carolina towns.
How Rocky Mount 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 Rocky Mount is worth $165,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $55,534, which is more affordable than 80% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $957 a month. 49.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rocky Mount | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $957 | $969 |
| Median household income | $55,534 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 49.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Rocky Mount
| People | Rocky Mount | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.9% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.7% | 89.5% |
Weather in Rocky Mount
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 30.6°F. About 48.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 37 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 Rocky Mount since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on September 27, 2024 about 0.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 35 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 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 Rocky Mount itself the ACS puts it at 8%.
Public schools in Rocky Mount
20 public schools with 9,294 students, about 17.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Nash High | 9-12 | 1,029 | 17.2 |
| Rocky Mount High | 9-12 | 997 | 15.8 |
| Nash Central High | 9-12 | 900 | 17.6 |
| Rocky Mount Preparatory (charter) | K-12 | 863 | 20.5 |
| Benvenue Elementary | K-5 | 613 | 17.0 |
| G W Bulluck Elementary | PK-5 | 606 | 14.8 |
| Englewood Elementary | 3-5 | 547 | 18.9 |
| Winstead Avenue Elementary | K-2 | 538 | 14.9 |
| Rocky Mount Middle | 6-8 | 448 | 21.3 |
| G R Edwards Middle | 6-8 | 432 | 19.6 |
| NRM Early College High School | 9-13 | 405 | 28.9 |
| D S Johnson Elementary | 3-5 | 332 | 18.4 |
Towns near Rocky Mount
- Nashville, NC8.3 mi · 5,632 people · home $205,300
- Red Oak, NC8.3 mi · 3,342 people · home $271,800
- Tarboro, NC14.7 mi · 10,721 people · home $185,500
- Wilson, NC17.8 mi · 47,851 people · home $210,700
- Lake Royale, NC21.5 mi · 3,392 people · home $280,400
- Farmville, NC28.5 mi · 4,461 people · home $183,000
- Louisburg, NC28.9 mi · 3,064 people · home $262,500
- Zebulon, NC29.9 mi · 6,903 people · home $320,700
Rocky Mount questions
Is Rocky Mount, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rocky Mount scores better for retirees than 29% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 14%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Rocky Mount?
The median owner-occupied home in Rocky Mount is valued at $165,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,534, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $957 a month.
What is the weather like in Rocky Mount?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 30.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Rocky Mount get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rocky Mount since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on September 27, 2024. 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)