The Town FilesEllerbe, North Carolina
Town in Richmond County · population 864 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $78,000
- Household income
- $34,808
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 28.8
Ellerbe is a town of 864 people in Richmond County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $78,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 90% of North Carolina towns, better for families than 82% of North Carolina towns.
- #5 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in North Carolina
- #8 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in North Carolina With Mild Winters
- #9 in 25 Small Towns in North Carolina With the Cheapest Homes
- #9 in 25 Small Towns in North Carolina With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #13 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in North Carolina
- #20 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in North Carolina
How Ellerbe 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 Ellerbe is worth $78,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $34,808, which is more affordable than 94% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $575 a month. 55.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ellerbe | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $78,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $575 | $969 |
| Median household income | $34,808 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 55.8% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Ellerbe
| People | Ellerbe | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 32.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.4% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 26.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.0% | 89.5% |
Weather in Ellerbe
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 32.6°F. About 48.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 58 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Ellerbe since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an F0, struck on September 27, 2004 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 27, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 3, 2003.
Severe weather in Richmond County since 1996
Richmond County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, biological.
| 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 Richmond County
Richmond County had 14,036 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,814 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Ellerbe itself the ACS puts it at 20%.
Public schools in Ellerbe
2 public schools with 615 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral Springs Elementary | PK-5 | 413 | 15.9 |
| Ellerbe Middle | 6-8 | 202 | 12.6 |
Towns near Ellerbe
- Rockingham, NC9.0 mi · 9,243 people · home $150,800
- East Rockingham, NC10.9 mi · 3,471 people · home $111,800
- Cordova, NC11.2 mi · 1,653 people · home $155,000
- Dobbins Heights, NC11.8 mi · 687 people · home $56,000
- Hamlet, NC12.7 mi · 6,025 people · home $112,600
- Foxfire, NC13.3 mi · 1,288 people · home $386,700
- Candor, NC15.7 mi · 813 people · home $164,900
- Pinebluff, NC16.4 mi · 1,473 people · home $234,200
Ellerbe questions
Is Ellerbe, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ellerbe scores better for retirees than 81% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 76%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.8).
How much does a house cost in Ellerbe?
The median owner-occupied home in Ellerbe is valued at $78,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,808, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $575 a month.
What is the weather like in Ellerbe?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 32.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year and 3.3 inches of snow.
Does Ellerbe get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Ellerbe since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on September 27, 2004. 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)