The Town FilesMiddlesex, North Carolina
Town in Nash County · population 912 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $216,900
- Household income
- $48,281
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 36.2
Middlesex is a town of 912 people in Nash County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $216,900, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 76% of North Carolina towns.
How Middlesex 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 Middlesex is worth $216,900, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $48,281, which is more affordable than 25% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $645 a month. 63.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Middlesex | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $216,900 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $645 | $969 |
| Median household income | $48,281 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 63.4% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Middlesex
| People | Middlesex | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.9% | — |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.8% | 89.5% |
Weather in Middlesex
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 31.3°F. About 49.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 48 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 61 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Middlesex since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 15, 1953 about 6.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 33 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 13, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 24, 1986.
Severe weather in Nash County since 1996
Nash County has been included in 28 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 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 Nash County
Nash County had 39,498 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,440 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Middlesex itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Middlesex
1 public school with 353 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex Elementary | PK-5 | 353 | 14.1 |
Towns near Middlesex
- Bailey, NC5.2 mi · 568 people · home $155,700
- Zebulon, NC6.7 mi · 6,903 people · home $320,700
- Wendell, NC8.2 mi · 9,793 people · home $330,500
- Archer Lodge, NC11.9 mi · 4,797 people · home $324,500
- Spring Hope, NC12.0 mi · 1,309 people · home $161,000
- Lake Royale, NC12.1 mi · 3,392 people · home $280,400
- Kenly, NC13.7 mi · 1,491 people · home $205,200
- Lucama, NC14.9 mi · 1,036 people · home $115,500
Middlesex questions
Is Middlesex, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Middlesex scores better for retirees than 35% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 22%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.2).
How much does a house cost in Middlesex?
The median owner-occupied home in Middlesex is valued at $216,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,281, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $645 a month.
What is the weather like in Middlesex?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 31.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.9 inches of precipitation a year and 3.3 inches of snow.
Does Middlesex get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Middlesex since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 15, 1953. 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)