Rocky Mount, NC Local Data & Statistics

State: NC

Total population: 54,297 Household income: $55,534 Rent: $957

Overview

Total population

54,297

Rent

$957

Year built

1979

Household income

$55,534

Per capita income

$31,561

Poverty rate

19.7%

Unemployment rate

5.1%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

38.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

North Carolina

Total population

54,297

Adults over 25

37,550

Total households

23,364

Household size

2.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$55,534

Per capita income

$31,561

Poverty rate

19.7%

Unemployment rate

5.1%

Rent over 30% of income

38.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$957

Year built

1979

Households that rent

51%

Households that own

49%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.2

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

26.9%

Black

62.6%

Asian

1.6%

Two or more races

4.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

5.5%

Not Hispanic or Latino

94.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

91.4%

Commute time to work

21 mins

Work from home

8.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

31.9%

High school graduate or GED

32.5%

Some college or associate degree

12.7%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

22.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Rocky Mount, NC with: North Carolina United States

Rocky Mount, NC

Total population54,297

Rent$957

Year built1979

Household income$55,534

Per capita income$31,561

Poverty rate19.7%

Unemployment rate5.1%

North Carolina State

Total population10,730,404

Rent$1,228

Year built1991

Household income$72,388

Per capita income$41,385

Poverty rate13%

Unemployment rate3.6%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityRocky Mount, NC	StateNorth Carolina	CountryUnited States
Total population	54,297	10,730,404	334,922,499
Rent	$957	$1,228	$1,413
Year built	1979	1991	1980
Household income	$55,534	$72,388	$80,734
Per capita income	$31,561	$41,385	$44,673
Poverty rate	19.7%	13%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	5.1%	3.6%	4%

View the complete comparison of Rocky Mount, NC, North Carolina and United States →

Summary for Rocky Mount, NC

Rocky Mount is located in North Carolina.

Rent & Income

In Rocky Mount, the typical monthly rent is $957 and the typical household income is $55,534. Rent here is lower than in both North Carolina and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 19.7%, which is higher than in both North Carolina and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 51% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. Around 38.8% of renters are cost-burdened, indicating a moderate level of rent pressure.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 22.9% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 5.1%, which is higher than both North Carolina and the national rate.

Rocky Mount, NC — Rent vs Household Income

Rocky Mount, NC — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Rocky Mount, NC compares in North Carolina (22 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$957	1 / 22	from lower rent	$957 – $1,902
Household income	$55,534	21 / 22	from higher income	$49,748 – $144,135
Poverty rate	19.7%	21 / 22	from lower poverty	2.2% – 24.6%
Unemployment rate	5.1%	21 / 22	from lower unemployment	2.5% – 7.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in North Carolina with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Rocky Mount, NC

Rent

When it comes to rent costs, Rocky Mount places 1st among 22 large places in North Carolina. Across the state, rents run from $957 in Rocky Mount, NC up to $1,902 in Apex, NC.

Household income

In terms of household income, Rocky Mount comes in 21st among 22 major places. Across North Carolina, income levels vary from $49,748 in Greenville, NC to $144,135 in Apex, NC.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, Rocky Mount ranks 21st out of 22 large places. Statewide rates vary from 2.2% in Apex, NC to 24.6% in Greenville, NC.

Unemployment rate

For unemployment, Rocky Mount ranks 21st out of 22 large places. Across North Carolina, unemployment ranges from 2.5% in Apex, NC to 7.2% in Asheville, NC.

💰 Rent in Rocky Mount, NC (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $957 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Rocky Mount, NC

Annual Household Income: $55,534

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Rocky Mount, NC

Estimated Rate: 19.7%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Rocky Mount, NC

In Rocky Mount, NC, households that rent: 11,913 (51%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	11,913	51%
Owner-Occupied	11,451	49%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Rocky Mount, NC

In Rocky Mount, NC, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 4,624 (38.8%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	4,624	38.8%
Other renter households	7,289	61.2%
Total renter households	11,913	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Rocky Mount, NC

Less than High School: 11,973 people (31.9%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 12,210 people (32.5%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 4,763 people (12.7%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 8,604 people (22.9%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 37,550

📊 Unemployment Rate in Rocky Mount, NC

Estimated Rate: 5.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

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ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.