The Town FilesRiver Road, North Carolina
Community in Beaufort County · population 4,048 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $232,800
- Household income
- $46,352
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 47.0
River Road is a community of 4,048 people in Beaufort County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $232,800, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more seaside character than 98% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 92% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 82% of North Carolina towns.
How River Road 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 River Road is worth $232,800, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $46,352, which is more affordable than 16% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $817 a month. 68.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | River Road | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $232,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $817 | $969 |
| Median household income | $46,352 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 68.3% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.1% | — |
Who lives in River Road
| People | River Road | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 12.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.6% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 89.5% |
Weather in River Road
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 33.6°F. About 53.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of River Road since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 25, 2014 about 1.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 39 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 3, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 28, 2007.
Severe weather in Beaufort County since 1996
Beaufort County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, 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 Beaufort County
Beaufort County had 15,848 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,313 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in River Road itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Towns near River Road
- Cypress Landing, NC3.9 mi · 1,257 people · home $440,000
- Washington, NC5.2 mi · 9,875 people · home $206,800
- Chocowinity, NC6.4 mi · 722 people · home $114,300
- Vanceboro, NC17.1 mi · 869 people · home $148,400
- Belhaven, NC20.6 mi · 1,410 people · home $103,000
- Greenville, NC22.7 mi · 87,521 people · home $233,500
- Winterville, NC23.3 mi · 10,462 people · home $245,100
- Williamston, NC23.8 mi · 5,248 people · home $107,100
River Road questions
Is River Road, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, River Road scores better for retirees than 77% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 82%. 25.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.0).
How much does a house cost in River Road?
The median owner-occupied home in River Road is valued at $232,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,352, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $817 a month.
What is the weather like in River Road?
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 33.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.0 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does River Road get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of River Road since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 25, 2014. 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)