Rocky Mount, NC Metro Area

Metro Area

Population: 144,228 (2023 estimate)

Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA)

Metro area data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) are defined by the Office of Management and Budget and group counties with a central urban core plus surrounding communities that are economically tied to it. Metro areas often cross county and state lines, making them the best unit for understanding regional labor markets, housing costs, and commute patterns.

Metro income rankings Compare to another metro

Trends 2017–2023

Income Poverty Home Values Rent Homeownership Education Unemployment Commute Time Work From Home Foreign-Born Uninsured

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023 (released December 2024).

Quick Facts — Rocky Mount, NC Metro Area

What is the median household income in Rocky Mount, NC Metro Area?: The median household income in Rocky Mount, NC Metro Area is $57,437 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023).
What is the poverty rate in Rocky Mount, NC Metro Area?: The poverty rate in Rocky Mount, NC Metro Area is 13.3% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the median home value in Rocky Mount, NC Metro Area?: $153,000 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the average rent in Rocky Mount, NC Metro Area?: The median gross rent in Rocky Mount, NC Metro Area is $889 per month (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What percentage of Rocky Mount, NC Metro Area residents have a college degree?: 20.0% of adults in Rocky Mount, NC Metro Area hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).

Population

144,228

Median Income

$57,437

Median Home Value

$153,000

Poverty Rate

13.3%

Unemployment (ACS 2023)

6.8%

Median Age

41.0 yrs

Since 2019 Median Income: +$12,878 (+28.9%) Home Value: +$41,900 (+37.7%) Poverty Rate: -1.3 pp (-8.9%) Bachelor's+: +1.8 pp (+9.9%) Unemployment: -0.3 pp (-4.2%)

Demographics

Total Population 144,228

Median Age 41.0

Female 52.2%

Race & Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 7.2% White (non-Hisp.) 42.9% Black 45.8% Asian 0.7% Two or More 4.1% Other 4.2%

Asian Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Indian

0.3%

Chinese

0.1%

Hispanic Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Mexican

5.2%

Puerto Rican

0.8%

Cuban

0.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Income & Poverty

Median Household Income $57,437 ±$1,963

Per Capita Income $77,538

Median Family Income $70,940

Poverty Rate 13.3%

Child Poverty Rate 23.9%

Working-Age Poverty Rate —

SNAP Recipients 20.7%

Social Security Income —

Retirement Income 25.3%

Household Income Distribution

< $10k

6.1%

$10–15k

5.0%

$15–25k

10.1%

$25–35k

9.4%

$35–50k

13.2%

$50–75k

18.5%

$75–100k

12.8%

$100–150k

14.4%

$150–200k

6.4%

$200k+

4.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Housing

Total Housing Units 66,795

Owner-Occupied 62.2%

Renter-Occupied 37.8%

Vacancy Rate 13.7%

Median Home Value $153,000

Median Gross Rent $889

Owner Cost Burden (30%+) 20.7%

Renter Cost Burden (30%+) 36.5%

Home Value Distribution

< $50k

12.0%

$50–100k

16.1%

$100–200k

20.8%

$200–300k

19.0%

$300–500k

12.4%

$500k–$1M

2.3%

$1M+

1.3%

Gross Rent Distribution

< $500

13.7%

$500–1k

52.3%

$1–1.5k

27.5%

$1.5–2k

5.9%

$2–2.5k

0.3%

$2.5–3.5k

0.4%

Vehicle Availability

No vehicle

8.5%

1 vehicle

31.0%

2 vehicles

32.4%

28.1%

Housing Type

Single-fam. det.

64.2%

Single-fam. att.

1.4%

2–4 units

5.0%

5–19 units

3.8%

20+ units

1.3%

Mobile home

18.2%

Housing Age

Pre-1940

9.1%

1940–1969

3.4%

1970–1999

17.0%

2000–2009

14.8%

2010+

6.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Education

High School or Higher 85.7%

Bachelor's or Higher 20.0%

Graduate Degree 6.4%

Some College / Associate 20.8%

Less Than High School 4.7%

Enrolled in School —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Employment

Labor Force Participation 58.8%

Unemployment Rate 6.8%

Work from Home 9.1%

Self-Employed 4.9%

Government Workers 13.7%

Private For-Profit 81.0%

Industry

Edu/Health

20.3%

Manufacturing

17.6%

Retail

12.3%

Arts/Entmt.

8.5%

Prof. Services

8.0%

Construction

8.0%

Finance

5.8%

Transportation

5.8%

Public Admin

4.6%

Wholesale

2.5%

Agriculture

2.0%

Information

1.1%

Occupation

Management

30.4%

Production

21.7%

Sales

20.5%

Food Prep

18.3%

Construction

9.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Commute

Median Travel Time 23.4 min

Drove Alone 80.6%

Carpool 7.4%

Public Transit 0.4%

Work from Home 9.1%

Walked 0.7%

Bicycle —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Households & Families

Total Households 57,656

Avg. Household Size 2.00

Avg. Family Size —

Married-Couple Households 40.6%

Single-Mother Households —

Single-Father Households —

Living Alone —

Households with Children 12.3%

Multigenerational —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Age Distribution

Under 5

5.7%

5–9

6.4%

10–14

6.1%

15–19

6.4%

20–24

5.7%

25–34

12.2%

35–44

11.4%

45–54

12.3%

55–64

7.5%

65–74

6.9%

75–84

12.0%

85+

5.0%

Under 18: 22.4% Working age (18–64): 77.6% 65 and over: 19.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Social Characteristics

Immigration

Foreign Born 3.7%

Naturalized Citizen 40.7%

Speaks English Less Than Very Well 1.9%

Foreign-Born Origin

Latin America

72.7%

Asia

16.6%

Europe

5.2%

Africa

3.3%

Veterans & Disability

Veteran 7.5%

With a Disability 15.7%

Cognitive Difficulty —

Ambulatory Difficulty —

Health Insurance

Insured 88.5%

Uninsured 11.5%

Employer Insurance —

Medicaid —

Medicare —

Technology & Mobility

Broadband Internet 80.9%

Has a Computer 90.1%

Same House 1 Year Ago 90.3%

Moved from Abroad 0.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023