Rocky Mount, NC

This city of 55,475 residents needs 1,965 more housing units over the next five years. Rocky Mount is a CDBG-entitlement community, see how the ROAD to Housing Act could change that funding. Rocky Mount is part of the Rocky Mount Urban Area MPO.

Housing snapshot

Population
55,475 (2026)
Households
23,619
Median household income
$62,415 (2026)
Typical home value
$221,704
Owner-occupied
43%
Five-year housing need
1,965 units

Comparison to other North Carolina municipalities

Rocky Mount: $62,415 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$18K >$156K
Rocky Mount: 1.24 jobs to household ratio
<0.04 >3.14
Rocky Mount: Permits since 2021 represent 2.2% of housing
<0.2% >30.6%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

In Rocky Mount, NC, the typical home price of $221,704 is below the North Carolina average of $264,457. Rocky Mount, NC's median household income of $62,415 puts the typical home within reach for most households.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Rocky Mount, NC has a population of roughly 54,297 that has been largely stable in recent years.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Rocky Mount, NC has roughly 23,619 households and a population that has been largely stable in recent years.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

In Rocky Mount, NC, detached single-family accounts for 66% of the housing stock. In Rocky Mount, NC, renters make up the majority, with only 43% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Rocky Mount, NC needs 1,965 new units over the next 5 years.

973
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
4.1%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 23,619 in 2026 to 24,592 in 2031.
992
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
272
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 2.0 per 1,000 units.
120
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 0.5%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
600
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 2.9%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
1,965
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
393
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
7.3%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
1.5%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

Build Now Act: how could CDBG funding change?

The Build Now Act (Section 213 of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act) ties a CDBG entitlement community's grant to how much housing it is building. This is a CommunityScale estimate from public ACS data, not HUD's official determination — HUD calculates from Census Master Address File block counts.

How does this place compare to similar communities?