The Town FilesLocust, North Carolina
City in Stanly County · population 4,537 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $322,100
- Household income
- $76,504
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 36.2
Locust is a city of 4,537 people in Stanly County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $322,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for families than 88% of North Carolina towns, more of a college town than 87% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 73% of North Carolina towns.
How Locust 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 Locust is worth $322,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $76,504, which is more affordable than 36% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $895 a month. 86.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Locust | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $322,100 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $895 | $969 |
| Median household income | $76,504 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 86.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2006 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Locust
| People | Locust | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 13.5% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 32.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 89.5% |
Weather in Locust
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 28.9°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 61 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 74 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Locust since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 29, 1999 about 0.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 3, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 5, 1989.
Severe weather in Stanly County since 1996
Stanly County has been included in 21 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 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| 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 Stanly County
Stanly County had 23,093 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,697 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Locust itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Locust
2 public schools with 1,159 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Stanly Middle School | 6-8 | 633 | 17.1 |
| Locust Elementary | K-5 | 526 | 15.9 |
Towns near Locust
- Stanfield, NC2.5 mi · 1,585 people · home $335,800
- Red Cross, NC5.1 mi · 762 people · home $257,000
- Midland, NC5.5 mi · 4,684 people · home $369,100
- Oakboro, NC6.4 mi · 2,128 people · home $282,600
- Mount Pleasant, NC8.6 mi · 1,671 people · home $306,500
- Fairview, NC9.3 mi · 3,456 people · home $382,300
- Millingport, NC10.2 mi · 588 people · home $209,900
- Harrisburg, NC12.1 mi · 18,967 people · home $478,000
Locust questions
Is Locust, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Locust scores better for retirees than 57% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 64%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.2).
How much does a house cost in Locust?
The median owner-occupied home in Locust is valued at $322,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,504, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $895 a month.
What is the weather like in Locust?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 28.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 2.3 inches of snow.
Does Locust get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Locust since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 29, 1999. 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)