The Town FilesLake Royale, North Carolina
Community in Franklin County · population 3,392 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $280,400
- Household income
- $107,806
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 47.9
Lake Royale is a community of 3,392 people in Franklin County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $280,400, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 93% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 84% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 81% of North Carolina towns.
How Lake Royale 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 Lake Royale is worth $280,400, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $107,806, which is more affordable than 88% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,390 a month. 94.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Royale | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $280,400 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,390 | $969 |
| Median household income | $107,806 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 94.5% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2000 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 25.4% | — |
Who lives in Lake Royale
| People | Lake Royale | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.9 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 11.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 36.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 89.5% |
Weather in Lake Royale
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 27.5°F. About 48.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.0 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 98 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Royale since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 28, 1988 about 5.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 1, 2012.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, 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 Franklin County
Franklin County had 13,747 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,174 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Lake Royale itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Towns near Lake Royale
- Louisburg, NC11.0 mi · 3,064 people · home $262,500
- Zebulon, NC11.6 mi · 6,903 people · home $320,700
- Nashville, NC13.2 mi · 5,632 people · home $205,300
- Wendell, NC14.8 mi · 9,793 people · home $330,500
- Rolesville, NC15.5 mi · 9,475 people · home $535,000
- Red Oak, NC17.4 mi · 3,342 people · home $271,800
- Wake Forest, NC17.9 mi · 47,601 people · home $474,500
- Knightdale, NC20.8 mi · 19,435 people · home $380,100
Lake Royale questions
Is Lake Royale, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Royale scores better for retirees than 80% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 74%. 28.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.9).
How much does a house cost in Lake Royale?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Royale is valued at $280,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,806, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,390 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Royale?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 27.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.3 inches of precipitation a year and 2.0 inches of snow.
Does Lake Royale get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Royale 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)