The Town FilesPembroke, North Carolina
Town in Robeson County · population 2,823 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $129,400
- Household income
- $25,889
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 24.2
Pembroke is a town of 2,823 people in Robeson County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $129,400, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 95% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 95% of North Carolina towns, better for cycling than 93% of North Carolina towns.
How Pembroke 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 Pembroke is worth $129,400, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $25,889, which is more affordable than 16% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $707 a month. 30.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pembroke | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $129,400 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $707 | $969 |
| Median household income | $25,889 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 30.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Pembroke
| People | Pembroke | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 24.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 39.1% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Pembroke
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 35.3°F. About 42.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 67 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 51 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pembroke since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 28, 1984 about 8.8 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 327 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 14, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on February 24, 2016.
Severe weather in Robeson County since 1996
Robeson County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, biological.
| 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 |
| March 3, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4588: Tropical Storm Eta |
Jobs and pay in Robeson County
Robeson County had 38,484 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,957 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Pembroke itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Pembroke
6 public schools with 3,828 students, about 16.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purnell Swett High | 9-12 | 1,604 | 17.8 |
| Pembroke Elementary | PK-5 | 704 | 16.0 |
| Pembroke Middle | 6-8 | 641 | 16.0 |
| Union Chapel Elementary | PK-6 | 422 | 13.6 |
| Old Main STREAM Academy (charter) | K-6 | 345 | 16.4 |
| CIS Academy (charter) | 6-8 | 112 | 14.0 |
Towns near Pembroke
- Prospect, NC4.5 mi · 873 people · home $100,700
- Red Springs, NC9.0 mi · 3,087 people · home $100,800
- Maxton, NC10.0 mi · 2,110 people · home $83,200
- Lumberton, NC10.4 mi · 19,025 people · home $152,600
- Rowland, NC11.2 mi · 885 people · home $118,000
- Barker Ten Mile, NC11.6 mi · 937 people · home $163,700
- Fairmont, NC13.4 mi · 2,191 people · home $106,800
- St. Pauls, NC15.3 mi · 2,045 people · home $111,000
Pembroke questions
Is Pembroke, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pembroke scores better for retirees than 0% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 4%. 11.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 24.2).
How much does a house cost in Pembroke?
The median owner-occupied home in Pembroke is valued at $129,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $25,889, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $707 a month.
What is the weather like in Pembroke?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 35.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Pembroke get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pembroke 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)