The Town FilesChina Grove, North Carolina
Town in Rowan County · population 4,434 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $225,800
- Household income
- $54,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 39.2
China Grove is a town of 4,434 people in Rowan County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $225,800, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more of a college town than 87% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 87% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 85% of North Carolina towns.
How China Grove 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 China Grove is worth $225,800, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $54,083, which is more affordable than 36% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $993 a month. 65.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | China Grove | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $225,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $993 | $969 |
| Median household income | $54,083 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 65.3% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in China Grove
| People | China Grove | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.3% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.2% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 29.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in China Grove
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 27.2°F. About 44.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.7 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 93 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of China Grove since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on February 6, 2020 about 5.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 7, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 7, 1998.
Severe weather in Rowan County since 1996
Rowan County has been included in 21 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 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 Rowan County
Rowan County had 50,595 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,503 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in China Grove itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in China Grove
6 public schools with 4,212 students, about 17.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson High | 9-12 | 1,135 | 18.9 |
| South Rowan High | 9-12 | 989 | 17.7 |
| China Grove Elementary | PK-5 | 636 | 16.7 |
| China Grove Middle | 6-8 | 562 | 20.1 |
| Millbridge Elementary | K-5 | 551 | 14.1 |
| Bostian Elementary | K-5 | 339 | 14.7 |
Towns near China Grove
- Landis, NC2.5 mi · 3,690 people · home $252,100
- Enochville, NC6.4 mi · 2,893 people · home $265,700
- Faith, NC6.7 mi · 819 people · home $264,000
- Granite Quarry, NC7.6 mi · 2,984 people · home $257,300
- Kannapolis, NC7.6 mi · 53,114 people · home $276,400
- Salisbury, NC8.0 mi · 35,540 people · home $242,500
- Rockwell, NC9.4 mi · 2,302 people · home $237,200
- East Spencer, NC11.3 mi · 1,567 people · home $112,000
China Grove questions
Is China Grove, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, China Grove scores better for retirees than 25% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 41%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in China Grove?
The median owner-occupied home in China Grove is valued at $225,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,083, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $993 a month.
What is the weather like in China Grove?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 27.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.3 inches of precipitation a year and 3.7 inches of snow.
Does China Grove get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of China Grove since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on February 6, 2020. 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)