The Town FilesWade, North Carolina
Town in Cumberland County · population 638 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $215,000
- Household income
- $70,938
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 41.9
Wade is a town of 638 people in Cumberland County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $215,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for retirees than 75% of North Carolina towns, better for families than 72% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 72% of North Carolina towns.
How Wade 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 Wade is worth $215,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $70,938, which is more affordable than 80% of North Carolina towns. 68.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wade | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $215,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | — | $969 |
| Median household income | $70,938 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 68.5% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wade
| People | Wade | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 14.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 31.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.7% | 89.5% |
Weather in Wade
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 31.8°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 63 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wade since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 16, 2011 about 4.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 170 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 29, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 28, 1984.
Severe weather in Cumberland County since 1996
Cumberland County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 Cumberland County
Cumberland County had 122,995 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,785 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Wade itself the ACS puts it at 12.6%.
Public schools in Wade
1 public school with 230 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| District No 7 Elementary | PK-5 | 230 | 14.4 |
Towns near Wade
- Eastover, NC5.4 mi · 3,656 people · home $241,600
- Vander, NC9.0 mi · 1,388 people · home $231,800
- Bunnlevel, NC9.9 mi · 516 people · home $189,100
- Stedman, NC10.6 mi · 1,277 people · home $218,800
- Plain View, NC11.6 mi · 1,923 people · home $200,900
- Erwin, NC11.6 mi · 4,542 people · home $161,100
- Dunn, NC12.5 mi · 8,446 people · home $193,900
- Fayetteville, NC14.3 mi · 208,501 people · home $188,000
Wade questions
Is Wade, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wade scores better for retirees than 75% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 57%. 16.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Wade?
The median owner-occupied home in Wade is valued at $215,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,938, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Wade?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 31.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 1.5 inches of snow.
Does Wade get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wade since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 16, 2011. 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)