The Town FilesRed Cross, North Carolina
Town in Stanly County · population 762 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $257,000
- Household income
- $64,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 38.0
Red Cross is a town of 762 people in Stanly County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $257,000, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 95% of North Carolina towns, better for families than 90% of North Carolina towns, more of a college town than 81% of North Carolina towns.
How Red Cross 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 Red Cross is worth $257,000, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $64,500, which is more affordable than 44% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $711 a month. 75.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Red Cross | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $257,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $711 | $969 |
| Median household income | $64,500 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 75.5% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Red Cross
| People | Red Cross | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.0% | 89.5% |
Weather in Red Cross
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 30.9°F. About 48.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.7 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 66 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Red Cross since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 29, 1999 about 9.9 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 25 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 29, 1987.
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 Red Cross itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Towns near Red Cross
- Oakboro, NC3.0 mi · 2,128 people · home $282,600
- Locust, NC5.1 mi · 4,537 people · home $322,100
- Stanfield, NC5.4 mi · 1,585 people · home $335,800
- Millingport, NC7.6 mi · 588 people · home $209,900
- Mount Pleasant, NC9.8 mi · 1,671 people · home $306,500
- Midland, NC10.5 mi · 4,684 people · home $369,100
- Albemarle, NC10.6 mi · 16,432 people · home $204,800
- Fairview, NC12.8 mi · 3,456 people · home $382,300
Red Cross questions
Is Red Cross, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Red Cross scores better for retirees than 67% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 69%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Red Cross?
The median owner-occupied home in Red Cross is valued at $257,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,500, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $711 a month.
What is the weather like in Red Cross?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 30.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1.7 inches of snow.
Does Red Cross get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Red Cross 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)