The Town FilesHaw River, North Carolina
Town in Alamance County · population 2,252 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $162,400
- Household income
- $61,058
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 32.4
Haw River is a town of 2,252 people in Alamance County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $162,400, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for cycling than 78% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 75% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 72% of North Carolina towns.
How Haw River 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 Haw River is worth $162,400, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $61,058, which is more affordable than 87% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,258 a month. 70.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Haw River | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $162,400 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,258 | $969 |
| Median household income | $61,058 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 70.8% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.0% | — |
Who lives in Haw River
| People | Haw River | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.4 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.3% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.1% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 32.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.9% | 89.5% |
Weather in Haw River
July highs average 89.9°F and January lows 28.8°F. About 47.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.8 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 54 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 80 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Haw River since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 6, 2025 about 6.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 1, 1998.
Severe weather in Alamance County since 1996
Alamance 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 11, 2025 | Tropical Depression | DR-4889: Tropical Depression Chantal |
| 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 Alamance County
Alamance County had 67,668 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,502 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Haw River itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Haw River
3 public schools with 2,063 students, about 17.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Alamance High | 9-12 | 876 | 18.6 |
| Alamance Community School (charter) | K-6 | 633 | 17.6 |
| Haw River Elementary | PK-5 | 554 | 16.3 |
Towns near Haw River
- Green Level, NC2.3 mi · 3,152 people · home $168,400
- Graham, NC3.0 mi · 17,157 people · home $233,800
- Woodlawn, NC4.0 mi · 912 people · home $327,600
- Swepsonville, NC4.4 mi · 2,445 people · home $311,200
- Mebane, NC4.6 mi · 17,797 people · home $338,900
- Burlington, NC6.2 mi · 57,303 people · home $199,200
- Glen Raven, NC6.4 mi · 3,239 people · home $224,000
- Elon, NC8.4 mi · 11,336 people · home $366,300
Haw River questions
Is Haw River, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Haw River scores better for retirees than 4% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 25%. 10.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.4).
How much does a house cost in Haw River?
The median owner-occupied home in Haw River is valued at $162,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,058, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,258 a month.
What is the weather like in Haw River?
July highs average 89.9°F and January lows 28.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1.8 inches of snow.
Does Haw River get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Haw River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 6, 2025. 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)