The Town FilesScotland Neck, North Carolina
Town in Halifax County · population 1,640 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $73,000
- Household income
- $19,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 52.8
Scotland Neck is a town of 1,640 people in Halifax County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $73,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks quieter than 98% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 87% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 80% of North Carolina towns.
How Scotland Neck 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 Scotland Neck is worth $73,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $19,083, which is more affordable than 49% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $559 a month. 46.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Scotland Neck | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $73,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $559 | $969 |
| Median household income | $19,083 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 46.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Scotland Neck
| People | Scotland Neck | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 44.8% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 38.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 51.1% | 89.5% |
Weather in Scotland Neck
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 33.3°F. About 49.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.0 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scotland Neck since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 10, 1952 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 4, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 31, 2019.
Severe weather in Halifax County since 1996
Halifax County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, 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 |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Halifax County
Halifax County had 15,156 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,039 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Scotland Neck itself the ACS puts it at 14.5%.
Public schools in Scotland Neck
1 public school with 134 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland Neck Elementary Leadership Acad | PK-5 | 134 | 12.2 |
Towns near Scotland Neck
- Rich Square, NC12.5 mi · 894 people · home $85,000
- Enfield, NC14.2 mi · 1,865 people · home $105,300
- Whitakers, NC16.4 mi · 627 people · home $148,300
- Tarboro, NC17.3 mi · 10,721 people · home $185,500
- Princeville, NC17.8 mi · 1,254 people · home $106,000
- Woodland, NC18.0 mi · 557 people · home $112,500
- Aulander, NC18.4 mi · 763 people · home $128,300
- South Weldon, NC22.0 mi · 550 people · home $66,500
Scotland Neck questions
Is Scotland Neck, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Scotland Neck scores better for retirees than 77% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 98%. 29.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.8).
How much does a house cost in Scotland Neck?
The median owner-occupied home in Scotland Neck is valued at $73,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $19,083, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $559 a month.
What is the weather like in Scotland Neck?
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 33.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.5 inches of precipitation a year and 3.0 inches of snow.
Does Scotland Neck get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scotland Neck since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 10, 1952. 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)