The Town FilesRowland, North Carolina
Town in Robeson County · population 885 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $118,000
- Household income
- $32,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 43.6
Rowland is a town of 885 people in Robeson County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $118,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 98% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 80% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 78% of North Carolina towns.
How Rowland 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 Rowland is worth $118,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $32,500, which is more affordable than 57% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $733 a month. 58.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rowland | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $118,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $733 | $969 |
| Median household income | $32,500 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 58.3% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rowland
| People | Rowland | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.4% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 33.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 19.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 69.8% | 89.5% |
Weather in Rowland
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 31.9°F. About 48.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 63 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 59 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rowland since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on November 15, 2008 about 8.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 16, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 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 Rowland itself the ACS puts it at 10.5%.
Public schools in Rowland
3 public schools with 901 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Elementary | PK-6 | 349 | 15.2 |
| South Robeson Middle School | 6-8 | 344 | 21.5 |
| Southside Ashpole Elementary | PK-5 | 208 | 13.9 |
Towns near Rowland
- Hamer, SC4.6 mi · 820 people · home $163,000
- Little Rock, SC7.2 mi · 658 people · home —
- Dillon, SC8.8 mi · 6,384 people · home $115,500
- Newtown, SC10.0 mi · 770 people · home $60,600
- Fairmont, NC10.6 mi · 2,191 people · home $106,800
- Pembroke, NC11.2 mi · 2,823 people · home $129,400
- Maxton, NC14.3 mi · 2,110 people · home $83,200
- Prospect, NC14.3 mi · 873 people · home $100,700
Rowland questions
Is Rowland, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rowland scores better for retirees than 22% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 80%. 28.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.6).
How much does a house cost in Rowland?
The median owner-occupied home in Rowland is valued at $118,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $32,500, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $733 a month.
What is the weather like in Rowland?
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 31.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Rowland get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rowland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on November 15, 2008. 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)