The Town FilesRiegelwood, North Carolina
Community in Columbus County · population 545 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $200,300
- Household income
- $49,583
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 63.3
Riegelwood is a community of 545 people in Columbus County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $200,300, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks quieter than 97% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 89% of North Carolina towns.
How Riegelwood 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 Riegelwood is worth $200,300, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $49,583, which is more affordable than 44% of North Carolina towns. 88.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Riegelwood | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $200,300 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | — | $969 |
| Median household income | $49,583 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 88.5% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Riegelwood
| People | Riegelwood | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 63.3 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 11.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.2% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.2% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 89.5% |
Weather in Riegelwood
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 33.1°F. About 63.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 56 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riegelwood since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 16, 2006 about 1.0 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 20 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 9, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 8, 2024.
Severe weather in Columbus County since 1996
Columbus County has been included in 29 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 |
| October 14, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4568: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Columbus County
Columbus County had 14,466 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,896 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Riegelwood itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Riegelwood
2 public schools with 385 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acme Delco Elementary | PK-6 | 310 | 14.8 |
| East Arcadia Elementary | PK-5 | 75 | 12.5 |
Towns near Riegelwood
- Northwest, NC4.6 mi · 703 people · home $225,900
- Bolton, NC10.4 mi · 519 people · home $146,700
- Navassa, NC11.1 mi · 1,367 people · home $187,100
- Leland, NC13.4 mi · 22,908 people · home $398,900
- Belville, NC15.3 mi · 2,406 people · home $282,600
- Lake Waccamaw, NC16.7 mi · 1,296 people · home $305,900
- Hightsville, NC16.9 mi · 710 people · home $228,000
- Wrightsboro, NC17.0 mi · 5,526 people · home $255,700
Riegelwood questions
Is Riegelwood, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Riegelwood scores better for retirees than 16% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 97%. 31.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 63.3).
How much does a house cost in Riegelwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Riegelwood is valued at $200,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,583, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Riegelwood?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 33.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 63.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Riegelwood get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riegelwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 16, 2006. 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)