The Town FilesProspect, North Carolina
Community in Robeson County · population 873 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $100,700
- Household income
- $110,769
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 30.4
Prospect is a community of 873 people in Robeson County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $100,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 89% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 83% of North Carolina towns.
How Prospect 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 Prospect is worth $100,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 0.9 times the median household income of $110,769, which is more affordable than 100% of North Carolina towns. 90.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Prospect | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $100,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | — | $969 |
| Median household income | $110,769 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 0.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 90.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Prospect
| People | Prospect | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.4 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.7% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 0.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 35.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 89.5% |
Weather in Prospect
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 33.7°F. About 40.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 67 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 58 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Prospect since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 28, 1984 about 8.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 332 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 Prospect itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Prospect
- Pembroke, NC4.5 mi · 2,823 people · home $129,400
- Red Springs, NC5.5 mi · 3,087 people · home $100,800
- Maxton, NC7.2 mi · 2,110 people · home $83,200
- Wagram, NC13.2 mi · 615 people · home $111,700
- Lumberton, NC13.8 mi · 19,025 people · home $152,600
- Barker Ten Mile, NC13.9 mi · 937 people · home $163,700
- Rowland, NC14.3 mi · 885 people · home $118,000
- Laurinburg, NC14.4 mi · 14,978 people · home $134,200
Prospect questions
Is Prospect, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Prospect scores better for retirees than 2% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 41%. 12.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.4).
How much does a house cost in Prospect?
The median owner-occupied home in Prospect is valued at $100,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $110,769, so homes cost about 0.9 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Prospect?
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 33.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Prospect get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Prospect 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)