The Town FilesRockingham, North Carolina
City in Richmond County · population 9,243 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $150,800
- Household income
- $37,224
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 39.2
Rockingham is a city of 9,243 people in Richmond County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $150,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more vibrant than 82% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 75% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 72% of North Carolina towns.
How Rockingham 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 Rockingham is worth $150,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $37,224, which is more affordable than 41% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $659 a month. 61.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rockingham | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $659 | $969 |
| Median household income | $37,224 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 61.5% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Rockingham
| People | Rockingham | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.7% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.6% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 1.4% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 23.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 89.5% |
Weather in Rockingham
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 32.6°F. About 49.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 70 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 71 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rockingham since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 29, 1964 about 1.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 13, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 3, 2003.
Severe weather in Richmond County since 1996
Richmond County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, 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 |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Richmond County
Richmond County had 14,036 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,814 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Rockingham itself the ACS puts it at 11.3%.
Public schools in Rockingham
7 public schools with 3,709 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond Senior High | 10-12 | 1,358 | 17.6 |
| Rockingham Middle | 6-8 | 590 | 15.5 |
| L J Bell Elementary | PK-5 | 480 | 15.0 |
| East Rockingham Elementary | K-5 | 462 | 15.4 |
| Washington Street Elementary | PK-5 | 409 | 15.7 |
| West Rockingham Elementary | PK-5 | 317 | 14.4 |
| Ashley Chapel Educational Center | 6-12 | 93 | 15.5 |
Towns near Rockingham
- East Rockingham, NC1.9 mi · 3,471 people · home $111,800
- Hamlet, NC4.4 mi · 6,025 people · home $112,600
- Wadesboro, NC17.9 mi · 5,008 people · home $153,200
- Cheraw, SC18.8 mi · 5,040 people · home $152,200
- Laurinburg, NC20.1 mi · 14,978 people · home $134,200
- Bennettsville, SC21.9 mi · 7,020 people · home $92,100
- Aberdeen, NC22.8 mi · 8,516 people · home $314,900
- Pinehurst, NC24.0 mi · 17,581 people · home $476,600
Rockingham questions
Is Rockingham, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rockingham scores better for retirees than 10% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 16%. 18.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in Rockingham?
The median owner-occupied home in Rockingham is valued at $150,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,224, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $659 a month.
What is the weather like in Rockingham?
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 32.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Rockingham get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rockingham since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 29, 1964. 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)