The Town FilesFour Oaks, North Carolina
Town in Johnston County · population 2,158 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $253,700
- Household income
- $72,826
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 40.9
Four Oaks is a town of 2,158 people in Johnston County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $253,700, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 86% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 78% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 76% of North Carolina towns.
How Four Oaks 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 Four Oaks is worth $253,700, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $72,826, which is more affordable than 62% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,081 a month. 50.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Four Oaks | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $253,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,081 | $969 |
| Median household income | $72,826 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 50.1% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Four Oaks
| People | Four Oaks | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.4% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 43.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Four Oaks
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 31.4°F. About 49.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 76 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Four Oaks since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 23, 1992 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 4, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 5, 1997.
Severe weather in Johnston County since 1996
Johnston County has been included in 27 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 Johnston County
Johnston County had 61,005 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,305 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Four Oaks itself the ACS puts it at 8.3%.
Public schools in Four Oaks
3 public schools with 2,864 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Johnston High | 9-12 | 1,332 | 17.1 |
| Four Oaks Elementary | PK-5 | 1,046 | 14.1 |
| Four Oaks Middle | 6-8 | 486 | 15.2 |
Towns near Four Oaks
- Smithfield, NC6.3 mi · 11,292 people · home $242,500
- Benson, NC8.2 mi · 3,967 people · home $279,800
- Selma, NC9.4 mi · 6,317 people · home $171,600
- Wilson's Mills, NC9.9 mi · 2,534 people · home $241,800
- Pine Level, NC9.9 mi · 2,046 people · home $221,000
- Newton Grove, NC14.3 mi · 585 people · home $149,600
- Coats, NC14.4 mi · 2,155 people · home $125,200
- Princeton, NC14.4 mi · 1,315 people · home $215,400
Four Oaks questions
Is Four Oaks, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Four Oaks scores better for retirees than 68% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 43%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Four Oaks?
The median owner-occupied home in Four Oaks is valued at $253,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,826, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,081 a month.
What is the weather like in Four Oaks?
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 31.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Four Oaks get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Four Oaks since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 23, 1992. 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)