The Town FilesDudley, North Carolina
Community in Wayne County · population 826 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $90,000
- Household income
- $42,050
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 24.0
Dudley is a community of 826 people in Wayne County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $90,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900).
How Dudley 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 Dudley is worth $90,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $42,050, which is more affordable than 97% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $808 a month. 81.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dudley | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $90,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $808 | $969 |
| Median household income | $42,050 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 81.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dudley
| People | Dudley | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 24.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 36.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.7% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 35.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 12.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 32.3% | — |
| Work from home | 22.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 69.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in Dudley
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 34.6°F. About 52.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.0 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 61 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 42 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dudley since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 28, 1984 about 6.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 175 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 5, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on October 1, 2008.
Severe weather in Wayne County since 1996
Wayne 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 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 |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Wayne County
Wayne County had 41,880 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,087 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Dudley itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Public schools in Dudley
3 public schools with 2,451 students, about 17.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Wayne High | 9-12 | 1,097 | 18.6 |
| Brogden Primary | PK-4 | 751 | 14.7 |
| Brogden Middle | 5-8 | 603 | 22.3 |
Towns near Dudley
- Brogden, NC2.2 mi · 2,510 people · home $96,400
- Mar-Mac, NC4.6 mi · 3,184 people · home $149,200
- Mount Olive, NC4.7 mi · 4,198 people · home $153,500
- Elroy, NC8.0 mi · 3,755 people · home $133,100
- Goldsboro, NC8.7 mi · 33,657 people · home $200,400
- Walnut Creek, NC9.8 mi · 1,084 people · home $468,700
- New Hope, NC11.4 mi · 1,588 people · home $162,800
- Faison, NC11.6 mi · 784 people · home $104,200
Dudley questions
Is Dudley, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dudley scores better for retirees than 17% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 26%. 11.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 24.0).
How much does a house cost in Dudley?
The median owner-occupied home in Dudley is valued at $90,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,050, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $808 a month.
What is the weather like in Dudley?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 34.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.3 inches of precipitation a year and 2.0 inches of snow.
Does Dudley get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dudley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 28, 1984. 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)