The Town FilesDortches, North Carolina
Town in Nash County · population 1,082 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $247,600
- Household income
- $74,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 43.7
Dortches is a town of 1,082 people in Nash County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $247,600, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks quieter than 90% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 89% of North Carolina towns, better for cycling than 86% of North Carolina towns.
How Dortches 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 Dortches is worth $247,600, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $74,500, which is more affordable than 69% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,215 a month. 83.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dortches | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $247,600 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,215 | $969 |
| Median household income | $74,500 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 83.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Dortches
| People | Dortches | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 13.9% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 89.5% |
Weather in Dortches
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 30.8°F. About 44.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dortches since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on September 27, 2024 about 4.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 14, 2026.
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 Dortches itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Dortches
1 public school with 411 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| M B Hubbard Elementary | K-5 | 411 | 15.8 |
Towns near Dortches
- Rocky Mount, NC4.0 mi · 54,341 people · home $165,700
- Red Oak, NC4.3 mi · 3,342 people · home $271,800
- Nashville, NC6.3 mi · 5,632 people · home $205,300
- Sharpsburg, NC10.2 mi · 1,697 people · home $121,900
- Whitakers, NC10.3 mi · 627 people · home $148,300
- Elm City, NC14.4 mi · 1,218 people · home $109,300
- Spring Hope, NC14.8 mi · 1,309 people · home $161,000
- Enfield, NC15.7 mi · 1,865 people · home $105,300
Dortches questions
Is Dortches, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dortches scores better for retirees than 74% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 90%. 22.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.7).
How much does a house cost in Dortches?
The median owner-occupied home in Dortches is valued at $247,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,500, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,215 a month.
What is the weather like in Dortches?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 30.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Dortches get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dortches since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on September 27, 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)