The Town FilesHollister, North Carolina
Community in Halifax County · population 618 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,400
- Household income
- $55,938
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 34.1
Hollister is a community of 618 people in Halifax County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $158,400, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 90% of North Carolina towns.
How Hollister 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 Hollister is worth $158,400, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $55,938, which is more affordable than 85% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $767 a month. 78.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hollister | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,400 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $767 | $969 |
| Median household income | $55,938 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 78.5% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.5% | — |
Who lives in Hollister
| People | Hollister | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.1 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.9% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 13.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.8% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 38.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 67.8% | 89.5% |
Weather in Hollister
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 29.2°F. About 47.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 50 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 86 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hollister since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 28, 1988 about 6.5 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 32 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 15, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 15, 1999.
Severe weather in Halifax County since 1996
Halifax County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, 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 Halifax County
Halifax County had 15,156 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,039 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Hollister itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Hollister
2 public schools with 308 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollister Elementary Leadership Academy | PK-5 | 165 | 12.7 |
| Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School (charter) | K-12 | 143 | 11.0 |
Towns near Hollister
- Littleton, NC12.2 mi · 559 people · home $108,700
- Red Oak, NC13.7 mi · 3,342 people · home $271,800
- Warrenton, NC15.7 mi · 851 people · home $192,000
- Enfield, NC15.8 mi · 1,865 people · home $105,300
- Whitakers, NC16.3 mi · 627 people · home $148,300
- Dortches, NC17.6 mi · 1,082 people · home $247,600
- South Rosemary, NC18.3 mi · 2,753 people · home $86,800
- Norlina, NC19.4 mi · 920 people · home $94,700
Hollister questions
Is Hollister, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hollister scores better for retirees than 49% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 64%. 12.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.1).
How much does a house cost in Hollister?
The median owner-occupied home in Hollister is valued at $158,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,938, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $767 a month.
What is the weather like in Hollister?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 29.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.7 inches of precipitation a year and 5.5 inches of snow.
Does Hollister get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hollister since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 28, 1988. 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)