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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Roanoke Rapids Micro

Roanoke Rapids, NC · 2 counties · 63,025 residents (2025 est.) · 1,260.448 sq mi
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#6Fastest shrinkingof 918-13.9%
The short version

Roanoke Rapids has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $46,768. Population has fallen 19% since 2000, a loss of 14,850 residents. 17% 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 $108,375. With a median age of 45.8, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 45.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% 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
64,606
−19%since 2000
from 79,456 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
51 / sq mi
−19%since 2000
from 63 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
45.8
+21%since 2000
from 38.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:63,025 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
63K68K72K76K81K1990201020202024Roanoke Rapids
202465K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,768
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,513 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,984
+103%since 2000
from $14,256 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.1%
+16.6 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
22.4%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 23.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.484
+5%since 2010
from 0.463 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance8.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade6.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services2.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration1.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$108,375
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,465 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$799
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $395 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.0%
−3.8 ptssince 2000
from 69.8% in 2000
34.0% rent
Vacancy rate
20.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
27.1%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 31.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.2%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
+5%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
33
RELATED:See current rent listings in Roanoke Rapids on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic41.4%(32,872)
Black54.3%(43,114)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(740)
Asian0.4%(330)
Other0%
Diversity Score63.1%(50,141)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic37.3%(24,101)
Black52.3%(33,758)
Hispanic / Latino3.1%(2,019)
Asian0.7%(443)
Other6.6%(4,285)
Diversity Score72.8%(47,032)
Segregation Score32.2%(20,776)
Diversity Score
73
+15%since 2000
from 63 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
32
−6%since 2020
from 34 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.6%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 11.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
83.0%
+18.4 ptssince 2000
from 64.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.6%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 2.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.7 min
+58%since 2000
from 16.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.8%
−7.8 ptssince 2009
from 85.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.7%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.5%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.0%
−6.1 ptssince 2011
from 15.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
52.0%
−1.7 ptssince 2011
from 53.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.1%
−31.6 ptssince 2009
from 60.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
Female
51.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 52.4% in 2009
Foreign born
2.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.1%
−39.4 ptssince 2009
from 46.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
22.0%
−1.8 ptssince 2012
from 23.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.0%
−75.1 ptssince 2013
from 84.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
75.1%
+19.8 ptssince 2017
from 55.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2016
from 96.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 2.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Roanoke RapidsCENTRAL14,386
What's inside

2 component counties

Halifax CountyCENTRAL46,534Northampton County16,491
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Roanoke Rapids

Gallup
Pop 68,119
Eagle Pass
Pop 58,823
Kinston
Pop 55,837
Gaffney
Pop 58,275
Places similar to Roanoke Rapids
Head to head

Compare Roanoke Rapids side by side

ROANOKE RAPIDS VS
Gallup
Income$47,668+2%
Home value$78,700−27%
Population68,119+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROANOKE RAPIDS VS
Eagle Pass
Income$49,568+6%
Home value$158,700+46%
Population58,823−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROANOKE RAPIDS VS
Kinston
Income$45,143−3%
Home value$120,500+11%
Population55,837−11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROANOKE RAPIDS VS
Gaffney
Income$50,288+8%
Home value$142,000+31%
Population58,275−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Roanoke Rapids, NC?

Roanoke Rapids, NC has about 64,606 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Roanoke Rapids, NC?

The typical household in Roanoke Rapids, NC earns about $46,768 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Roanoke Rapids, NC expensive?

In Roanoke Rapids, NC, the median home is worth about $108,375, and the typical rent is about $799 a month.

How educated are people in Roanoke Rapids, NC?

About 16.6% of adults age 25 and over in Roanoke Rapids, NC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Roanoke Rapids, NC?

About 22.4% of people in Roanoke Rapids, NC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Roanoke Rapids, NC grown since 1990?

Yes, Roanoke Rapids, NC has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 11,708 residents, a change of about -15 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →