The Town FilesCarthage, North Carolina
Town in Moore County · population 2,775 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $208,200
- Household income
- $82,695
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 44.7
Carthage is a town of 2,775 people in Moore County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $208,200, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better transit than 87% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 74% of North Carolina towns.
How Carthage 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 Carthage is worth $208,200, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $82,695, which is more affordable than 91% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $904 a month. 81.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carthage | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $208,200 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $904 | $969 |
| Median household income | $82,695 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 81.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Carthage
| People | Carthage | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.2% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 9.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 14.3% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 89.5% |
Weather in Carthage
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 30.6°F. About 47.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 62 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carthage since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 16, 2011 about 8.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 37 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 16, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 12, 2024.
Severe weather in Moore County since 1996
Moore County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 11, 2025 | Tropical Depression | DR-4889: Tropical Depression Chantal |
| 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 Moore County
Moore County had 40,121 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,059 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Carthage itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Carthage
4 public schools with 1,308 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crain's Creek Middle | 6-8 | 496 | 16.5 |
| Sandhills Farm Life Elementary | K-5 | 378 | 14.5 |
| Carthage Elementary | PK-5 | 358 | 14.9 |
| The Community Learning Center @ Pinckney | 6-12 | 76 | 9.5 |
Towns near Carthage
- Whispering Pines, NC5.6 mi · 4,987 people · home $464,800
- Southern Pines, NC8.8 mi · 15,545 people · home $451,100
- Pinehurst, NC9.7 mi · 17,581 people · home $476,600
- Seven Lakes, NC10.7 mi · 4,900 people · home $394,500
- Aberdeen, NC13.0 mi · 8,516 people · home $314,900
- Sanford, NC17.7 mi · 30,261 people · home $245,400
- Spout Springs, NC20.9 mi · 11,040 people · home $358,500
- Spring Lake, NC25.3 mi · 11,660 people · home $124,000
Carthage questions
Is Carthage, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carthage scores better for retirees than 55% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 74%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.7).
How much does a house cost in Carthage?
The median owner-occupied home in Carthage is valued at $208,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,695, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $904 a month.
What is the weather like in Carthage?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 30.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.8 inches of precipitation a year and 1.3 inches of snow.
Does Carthage get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carthage since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 16, 2011. 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)