The Town FilesRural Hall, North Carolina
Town in Forsyth County · population 3,351 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $189,600
- Household income
- $51,054
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 42.1
Rural Hall is a town of 3,351 people in Forsyth County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $189,600, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 81% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 77% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 70% of North Carolina towns.
How Rural Hall 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 Rural Hall is worth $189,600, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $51,054, which is more affordable than 52% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $967 a month. 56.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rural Hall | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $189,600 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $967 | $969 |
| Median household income | $51,054 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 56.1% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Rural Hall
| People | Rural Hall | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 10.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.7% | — |
| Work from home | 16.6% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 34.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Rural Hall
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 25.9°F. About 47.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 98 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rural Hall since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 5, 1989 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 23, 2005.
Severe weather in Forsyth County since 1996
Forsyth County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 Forsyth County
Forsyth County had 192,587 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,257 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Rural Hall itself the ACS puts it at 12.5%.
Public schools in Rural Hall
1 public school with 465 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Hall Elementary | PK-5 | 465 | 14.1 |
Towns near Rural Hall
- Tobaccoville, NC3.5 mi · 2,578 people · home $234,200
- King, NC4.8 mi · 7,197 people · home $238,200
- Winston-Salem, NC8.6 mi · 249,545 people · home $233,800
- Walkertown, NC8.8 mi · 5,692 people · home $236,900
- Lewisville, NC10.9 mi · 13,381 people · home $325,400
- Clemmons, NC14.1 mi · 21,163 people · home $335,800
- Kernersville, NC14.5 mi · 26,449 people · home $290,700
- Wallburg, NC16.3 mi · 3,051 people · home $343,700
Rural Hall questions
Is Rural Hall, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rural Hall scores better for retirees than 45% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 70%. 19.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Rural Hall?
The median owner-occupied home in Rural Hall is valued at $189,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,054, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $967 a month.
What is the weather like in Rural Hall?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 25.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.3 inches of precipitation a year and 6.2 inches of snow.
Does Rural Hall get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rural Hall since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 5, 1989. 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)