Checked
Rocky Mount, NC
City in Nash County, North Carolina. ZIP codes: 27801, 27803, 27804.
Population
54,297
Land area
45.2sq mi
People per sq mi
1,200
ZIP codes
3
Rocky Mount and its ZIP codes
Rocky Mount at a glance
- Rocky Mount is about 5.4 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
- It is the 20th most populous of 772 cities and towns in North Carolina.
- Households here earn a median of $55,534 a year, 23% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $165,700 (43% below North Carolina) and median rent is $957 a month.
Local data for Rocky Mount, NC
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes3
- Schools18
- Colleges1
- Libraries1
- Banks16
- Post Offices7
- Parks24
- Grocery Stores32
- Restaurants199
- Affordable Housing14
- Home Health Agencies2
- Hospice Care2
- Dialysis Centers3
- Rehab & Long-Term Care Hospitals2
- Community Health Centers9
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment4
- Private Schools3
- Toxic Release Facilities5
- Historic Places5
Housing and community stats
Rocky Mount, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$55,534
Poverty rate
19.7%
Median home value
$165,700
Median rent
$957/mo
Homeownership
49.0%
Bachelor's or higher
22.9%
Median age
40.7
Average commute
20.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (1,691), German Americans (1,551), Mexican Americans (1,539).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Nash County. PPP loans are for Rocky Mount.
Unemployment rate
4.1%
Sep 2026, -0.8 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$55,481
40,231 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$56,141
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$719M
FY 2026, $7,574 per person
PPP loans
$84.1M
1,041 loans, 12,027 jobs reported
How people get to work
Rocky Mount, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone80.0%
- Carpooled7.5%
- Public transit1.0%
- Walked0.6%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other2.4%
- Worked from home8.6%
Average one-way commute: 20.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Rocky Mount, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: winter weather
Storm events since 1996
474
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
525
1.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
91° / 31°F
44.4 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone5 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Rocky Mount, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
42.4%
U.S. 33.3% +9.1 pts
Diabetes
17.7%
U.S. 12.1% +5.6 pts
Smoking
17.1%
U.S. 12.8% +4.3 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
12.4%
U.S. 11.1% +1.3 pts
ZIP codes in Rocky Mount
3 in or overlapping Rocky Mount. Population shown
Cities near Rocky Mount
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| DortchesTown | 2.9 mi | 7.9 |
| Red OakTown | 5.8 mi | 19.5 |
| NashvilleTown | 6.8 mi | 4.7 |
| SharpsburgTown | 7.3 mi | 1 |
| WhitakersTown | 12 mi | 0.8 |
| MomeyerTown | 12 mi | 1.1 |
| Elm CityTown | 13 mi | 2.2 |
| LeggettTown | 14 mi | 0.8 |
| CastaliaTown | 15 mi | 0.8 |
| Spring HopeTown | 16 mi | 1.5 |
| PinetopsTown | 17 mi | 1 |
| TarboroTown | 17 mi | 11.3 |
| EnfieldTown | 17 mi | 1.3 |
| WilsonCity | 17 mi | 31.6 |
| MacclesfieldTown | 18 mi | 0.5 |
| SimsTown | 19 mi | 0.2 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Rocky Mount, NC in?
- Rocky Mount is in Nash County, North Carolina.
- What ZIP codes are in Rocky Mount, NC?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Rocky Mount include 27801, 27803, 27804.
- What is the population of Rocky Mount, NC?
- About 54,297 people live in Rocky Mount, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Rocky Mount?
- Nearby places include Dortches (2.9 mi), Red Oak (5.8 mi), Nashville (6.8 mi), Sharpsburg (7.3 mi), Whitakers (12 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023