The Town FilesSouth Rosemary, North Carolina
Community in Halifax County · population 2,753 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $86,800
- Household income
- $47,466
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 42.9
South Rosemary is a community of 2,753 people in Halifax County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $86,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 73% of North Carolina towns.
How South Rosemary 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 South Rosemary is worth $86,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $47,466, which is more affordable than 99% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $907 a month. 76.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Rosemary | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $86,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $907 | $969 |
| Median household income | $47,466 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 76.8% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in South Rosemary
| People | South Rosemary | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.7% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.8% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 27.7% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.4% | 89.5% |
Weather in South Rosemary
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
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Rosemary since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 16, 2011 about 2.5 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 19 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 South Rosemary itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Towns near South Rosemary
- Roanoke Rapids, NC3.6 mi · 15,229 people · home $142,700
- Emporia, VA19.5 mi · 5,766 people · home $148,500
- Red Oak, NC29.1 mi · 3,342 people · home $271,800
- South Hill, VA29.8 mi · 4,690 people · home $242,700
South Rosemary questions
Is South Rosemary, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Rosemary scores better for retirees than 10% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 23%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in South Rosemary?
The median owner-occupied home in South Rosemary is valued at $86,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,466, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $907 a month.
What is the weather like in South Rosemary?
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 South Rosemary get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Rosemary since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 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)