The Town FilesNorlina, North Carolina
Town in Warren County · population 920 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $94,700
- Household income
- $27,143
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 48.2
Norlina is a town of 920 people in Warren County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $94,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 87% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 80% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 76% of North Carolina towns.
How Norlina 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 Norlina is worth $94,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $27,143, which is more affordable than 62% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $747 a month. 53.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Norlina | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $94,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $747 | $969 |
| Median household income | $27,143 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 53.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Norlina
| People | Norlina | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.2% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.9% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 17.8% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 31.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.8% | 89.5% |
Weather in Norlina
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 28.7°F. About 43.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 59 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 80 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norlina since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on February 24, 2016 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 27, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on February 24, 2016.
Severe weather in Warren County since 1996
Warren County has been included in 24 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 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 Warren County
Warren County had 2,889 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,054 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Norlina itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in Norlina
1 public school with 309 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northside Elementary | PK-5 | 309 | 16.3 |
Towns near Norlina
- Warrenton, NC3.8 mi · 851 people · home $192,000
- Bracey, VA10.4 mi · 1,372 people · home $238,300
- Henderson, NC14.7 mi · 15,060 people · home $123,800
- South Henderson, NC15.3 mi · 988 people · home —
- Littleton, NC15.8 mi · 559 people · home $108,700
- La Crosse, VA18.6 mi · 614 people · home $105,400
- Hollister, NC19.4 mi · 618 people · home $158,400
- South Hill, VA19.7 mi · 4,690 people · home $242,700
Norlina questions
Is Norlina, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Norlina scores better for retirees than 59% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 76%. 26.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.2).
How much does a house cost in Norlina?
The median owner-occupied home in Norlina is valued at $94,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $27,143, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $747 a month.
What is the weather like in Norlina?
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 28.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.5 inches of precipitation a year and 3.1 inches of snow.
Does Norlina get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norlina since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on February 24, 2016. 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)