The Town FilesBailey, North Carolina
Town in Nash County · population 568 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,700
- Household income
- $60,208
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 47.4
Bailey is a town of 568 people in Nash County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $155,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 100% of North Carolina towns, more of a college town than 98% of North Carolina towns, better for families than 77% of North Carolina towns.
How Bailey ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bailey is worth $155,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $60,208, which is more affordable than 88% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $814 a month. 58.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bailey | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $814 | $969 |
| Median household income | $60,208 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 58.3% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.3% | — |
Who lives in Bailey
| People | Bailey | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.4 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.8% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 12.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 26.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in Bailey
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 32.7°F. About 50.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bailey since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on August 8, 2024 about 6.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 1, 2012.
Severe weather in Nash County since 1996
Nash County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Nash County
Nash County had 39,498 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,440 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Bailey itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Bailey
2 public schools with 1,642 students, about 18.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Nash High | 9-12 | 1,073 | 20.6 |
| Bailey Elementary | PK-5 | 569 | 15.4 |
Towns near Bailey
- Middlesex, NC5.2 mi · 912 people · home $216,900
- Wilson, NC10.8 mi · 47,851 people · home $210,700
- Lucama, NC11.1 mi · 1,036 people · home $115,500
- Spring Hope, NC11.3 mi · 1,309 people · home $161,000
- Zebulon, NC11.8 mi · 6,903 people · home $320,700
- Kenly, NC12.5 mi · 1,491 people · home $205,200
- Wendell, NC13.4 mi · 9,793 people · home $330,500
- Lake Royale, NC13.5 mi · 3,392 people · home $280,400
Bailey questions
Is Bailey, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bailey scores better for retirees than 61% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 33%. 29.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.4).
How much does a house cost in Bailey?
The median owner-occupied home in Bailey is valued at $155,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,208, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $814 a month.
What is the weather like in Bailey?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 32.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.3 inches of precipitation a year and 2.3 inches of snow.
Does Bailey get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bailey since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on August 8, 2024. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)