The Town FilesDunn, North Carolina
City in Harnett County · population 8,446 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $193,900
- Household income
- $46,830
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 43.2
Dunn is a city of 8,446 people in Harnett County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $193,900, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks hipper than 93% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 91% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 85% of North Carolina towns.
How Dunn 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 Dunn is worth $193,900, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $46,830, which is more affordable than 41% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $788 a month. 54.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dunn | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $193,900 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $788 | $969 |
| Median household income | $46,830 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 54.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Dunn
| People | Dunn | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.9% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.7% | 89.5% |
Weather in Dunn
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 31.8°F. About 50.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 49 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 67 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dunn since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 16, 2011 about 6.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 182 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 3, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 5, 1997.
Severe weather in Harnett County since 1996
Harnett 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 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 Harnett County
Harnett County had 28,081 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,955 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Dunn itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Dunn
7 public schools with 3,445 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunn Elementary | PK-5 | 799 | 13.8 |
| Coats-Erwin Middle | 6-8 | 609 | 17.4 |
| Midway Middle | 6-8 | 601 | 17.7 |
| Midway Elementary | PK-5 | 510 | 14.2 |
| Dunn Middle | 6-8 | 399 | 14.8 |
| Plain View Elementary | K-5 | 356 | 14.2 |
| Harnett County Early College | 9-13 | 171 | 21.4 |
Towns near Dunn
- Erwin, NC3.5 mi · 4,542 people · home $161,100
- Benson, NC6.6 mi · 3,967 people · home $279,800
- Buies Creek, NC9.9 mi · 3,253 people · home $361,500
- Lillington, NC13.2 mi · 4,735 people · home $247,200
- Angier, NC15.6 mi · 5,265 people · home $268,200
- Eastover, NC17.9 mi · 3,656 people · home $241,600
- Anderson Creek, NC19.7 mi · 13,636 people · home $282,200
- Smithfield, NC20.7 mi · 11,292 people · home $242,500
Dunn questions
Is Dunn, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dunn scores better for retirees than 44% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 37%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.2).
How much does a house cost in Dunn?
The median owner-occupied home in Dunn is valued at $193,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,830, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $788 a month.
What is the weather like in Dunn?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 31.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.1 inches of precipitation a year and 2.1 inches of snow.
Does Dunn get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dunn 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)