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CITY

Rocky Mount

North Carolina · 55,120 residents (2025 est.) · 44.683 sq mi
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The short version

Rocky Mount has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $55,534. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $165,700.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
54,297
−3%since 2000
from 55,893 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,215 / sq mi
−3%since 2000
from 1,251 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.7
+16%since 2000
from 35.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:55,120 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
48K51K54K57K60K1990201020202024Rocky Mount
202454K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$55,534
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,661 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,561
+77%since 2000
from $17,804 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.8%
+14.0 ptssince 2009
from 19.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 20.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.466
−2%since 2010
from 0.477 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance6.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration3.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$165,700
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $85,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$957
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $496 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
49.0%
−6.0 ptssince 2000
from 55.0% in 2000
51.0% rent
Vacancy rate
13.0%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.1%
−9.7 ptssince 2009
from 31.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.8%
−8.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.0
+14%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
47
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rocky Mount on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic40.3%(22,548)
Black55.8%(31,175)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(1,033)
Asian0.7%(375)
Other0%
Diversity Score64.1%(35,812)
2024
White, non-Hispanic26%(14,138)
Black62.4%(33,881)
Hispanic / Latino5.5%(2,997)
Asian1.5%(800)
Other4.6%(2,481)
Diversity Score67.2%(36,479)
Diversity Score
67
+5%since 2000
from 64 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.9%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 20.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.3%
+13.1 ptssince 2000
from 74.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.2%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 6.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.6 min
+63%since 2000
from 12.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.0%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 81.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.5%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.0%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.6%
+6.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
12.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.0%
−6.1 ptssince 2011
from 14.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.4%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 60.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.2%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.4%
−34.1 ptssince 2009
from 63.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
Female
52.8%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 54.1% in 2009
Foreign born
3.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.0%
−34.9 ptssince 2009
from 43.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.3%
−0.9 ptssince 2012
from 16.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.3%
−72.0 ptssince 2013
from 83.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
80.7%
+15.0 ptssince 2017
from 65.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 94.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.6%
+1.5 ptssince 2016
from 3.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Rocky Mount to nearby cities

ROCKY MOUNT VS
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Income$49,796−10%
Home value$185,500+12%
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ROCKY MOUNT VS
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Income$52,485−5%
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ROCKY MOUNT VS
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Income$79,112+42%
Home value$320,700+94%
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ROCKY MOUNT VS
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Income$53,690−3%
Home value$142,700−14%
Population14,386−74%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Rocky Mount, North Carolina?

Rocky Mount, North Carolina has about 54,297 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Rocky Mount, North Carolina?

The typical household in Rocky Mount, North Carolina earns about $55,534 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rocky Mount, North Carolina expensive?

In Rocky Mount, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $165,700, and the typical rent is about $957 a month.

How educated are people in Rocky Mount, North Carolina?

About 22.9% of adults age 25 and over in Rocky Mount, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rocky Mount, North Carolina?

About 19.7% of people in Rocky Mount, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rocky Mount, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Rocky Mount, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 5,132 residents, a change of about 10 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →