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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Rocky Mount Metro

Rocky Mount, NC · 2 counties · 143,870 residents · 1,045.88 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 $46,734. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $118,469.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 43.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
143,870
+1%since 2000
from 143,026 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
138 / sq mi
+1%since 2000
from 137 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
43.1
+19%since 2000
from 36.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
131K137K143K149K154K1990201020202024Rocky Mount
2024145K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,734
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,751 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,352
+48%since 2000
from $17,141 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
28.1%
+7.5 ptssince 2009
from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
18.0%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 15.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade17%
US avg: 10%
Information12.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade6.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical5.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction2.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$118,469
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $76,969 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$755
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $474 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
62.2%
−4.1 ptssince 2000
from 66.3% in 2000
37.8% rent
Afford Score
2.5
+14%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rocky Mount on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic52.6%(75,164)
Black42.9%(61,295)
Hispanic / Latino3.1%(4,493)
Asian0.4%(539)
Other0%
Diversity Score66.1%(94,595)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic44.2%(63,657)
Black44.5%(63,978)
Hispanic / Latino7%(10,028)
Asian0.7%(1,016)
Other2.2%(3,179)
Diversity Score73.7%(106,048)
Segregation Score34.5%(49,584)
Diversity Score
74
+11%since 2000
from 66 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
34
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.5%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 13.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
85.2%
+13.5 ptssince 2000
from 71.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
5.9%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.5 min
+63%since 2000
from 14.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
83.8%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 82.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
8.1%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.8%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 12.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
58.3%
−3.8 ptssince 2011
from 62.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
29.7%
−30.6 ptssince 2009
from 60.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
Female
52.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 52.6% in 2009
Foreign born
3.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
10.4%
−72.7 ptssince 2013
from 83.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
In this metro

Principal cities

Rocky MountCENTRAL55,120
What's inside

2 component counties

Nash CountyCENTRAL99,365Edgecombe CountyCENTRAL49,121
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Rocky Mount

Albany
Pop 145,510
Dothan
Pop 156,266
Alexandria
Pop 147,952
Jonesboro
Pop 139,440
Places similar to Rocky Mount
Head to head

Compare Rocky Mount side by side

ROCKY MOUNT VS
Albany
Income$59,461+27%
Home value$151,728+28%
Population145,510−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROCKY MOUNT VS
Dothan
Income$57,746+24%
Home value$171,459+45%
Population156,266+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROCKY MOUNT VS
Alexandria
Income$56,303+20%
Home value$175,518+48%
Population147,952same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROCKY MOUNT VS
Jonesboro
Income$57,416+23%
Home value$192,570+63%
Population139,440−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Rocky Mount, NC?

Rocky Mount, NC has about 143,870 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Rocky Mount, NC?

The typical household in Rocky Mount, NC earns about $46,734 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rocky Mount, NC expensive?

In Rocky Mount, NC, the median home is worth about $118,469, and the typical rent is about $755 a month.

How educated are people in Rocky Mount, NC?

About 19.5% of adults age 25 and over in Rocky Mount, NC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rocky Mount, NC?

About 18.0% of people in Rocky Mount, NC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rocky Mount, NC grown since 1990?

Yes, Rocky Mount, NC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 10,635 residents, a change of about 8 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 →