The Town FilesHope Mills, North Carolina
Town in Cumberland County · population 17,808 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $190,600
- Household income
- $65,774
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 34.0
Hope Mills is a town of 17,808 people in Cumberland County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $190,600, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for cycling than 87% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 84% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 83% of North Carolina towns.
How Hope Mills 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 Hope Mills is worth $190,600, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $65,774, which is more affordable than 82% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,141 a month. 66.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hope Mills | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $190,600 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,141 | $969 |
| Median household income | $65,774 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 66.5% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hope Mills
| People | Hope Mills | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.4% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.1% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 20.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.1% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Hope Mills
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 34.0°F. About 44.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 71 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hope Mills since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 28, 1984 about 4.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 446 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 23, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 66 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 23, 1975.
Severe weather in Cumberland County since 1996
Cumberland County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 Cumberland County
Cumberland County had 122,995 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,785 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Hope Mills itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Public schools in Hope Mills
10 public schools with 8,228 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South View High | 9-12 | 1,451 | 17.3 |
| Gray's Creek High | 9-12 | 1,419 | 19.4 |
| Gray's Creek Middle | 6-8 | 1,088 | 19.1 |
| Gallberry Farm Elementary | PK-5 | 914 | 15.8 |
| Rockfish Elementary | PK-5 | 669 | 14.5 |
| South View Middle | 6-8 | 626 | 14.2 |
| Ed V Baldwin Elementary | PK-5 | 606 | 14.4 |
| C Wayne Collier Elementary | PK-5 | 505 | 12.6 |
| Hope Mills Middle | 6-8 | 491 | 15.8 |
| Gray's Creek Elementary | PK-5 | 459 | 14.8 |
Towns near Hope Mills
- Rockfish, NC6.4 mi · 3,383 people · home $199,900
- Fayetteville, NC7.9 mi · 208,501 people · home $188,000
- Eastover, NC13.1 mi · 3,656 people · home $241,600
- Spring Lake, NC15.0 mi · 11,660 people · home $124,000
- Raeford, NC15.3 mi · 4,559 people · home $201,800
- Red Springs, NC16.9 mi · 3,087 people · home $100,800
- Anderson Creek, NC21.3 mi · 13,636 people · home $282,200
- Spout Springs, NC21.6 mi · 11,040 people · home $358,500
Hope Mills questions
Is Hope Mills, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hope Mills scores better for retirees than 1% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 0%. 12.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.0).
How much does a house cost in Hope Mills?
The median owner-occupied home in Hope Mills is valued at $190,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,774, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,141 a month.
What is the weather like in Hope Mills?
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 34.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Hope Mills get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hope Mills since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 28, 1984. 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)