The Town FilesSouth Henderson, North Carolina
Community in Vance County · population 988 (2020 Census)
- Household income
- $28,558
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 33.5
South Henderson is a community of 988 people in Vance County, North Carolina. It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 92% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 77% of North Carolina towns.
How South Henderson 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
Median rent is $932 a month. 50.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Henderson | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | — | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $932 | $969 |
| Median household income | $28,558 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 50.8% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in South Henderson
| People | South Henderson | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.9% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 44.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.7% | — |
| Work from home | 1.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 61.8% | 89.5% |
Weather in South Henderson
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 25.8°F. About 48.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.6 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Henderson since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on February 24, 2016 about 7.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on February 24, 2016.
Severe weather in Vance County since 1996
Vance County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, 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 Vance County
Vance County had 14,120 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,261 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in South Henderson itself the ACS puts it at 33.3%.
Towns near South Henderson
- Henderson, NC1.6 mi · 15,060 people · home $123,800
- Oxford, NC10.1 mi · 8,628 people · home $196,200
- Franklinton, NC14.2 mi · 2,456 people · home $249,100
- Norlina, NC15.3 mi · 920 people · home $94,700
- Louisburg, NC15.3 mi · 3,064 people · home $262,500
- Warrenton, NC15.3 mi · 851 people · home $192,000
- Youngsville, NC19.0 mi · 2,016 people · home $434,100
- Stem, NC19.1 mi · 960 people · home $240,500
South Henderson questions
Is South Henderson, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Henderson scores better for retirees than 0% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 21%. 10.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.5).
What is the weather like in South Henderson?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 25.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1.6 inches of snow.
Does South Henderson get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Henderson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on February 24, 2016. 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)