Rocky Mount, North Carolina Income Statistics
Rocky Mount Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Rocky Mount Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Rocky Mount | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $55,511 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $44,858 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.5% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.6% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.2% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Rocky Mount is about 23% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Rocky Mount (5.5%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Rocky Mount earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Rocky Mount, North Carolina grew by 46.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $55,511 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Rocky Mount
| Metric | Rocky Mount | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.519 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $50,563 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $44,951 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 11.1% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Rocky Mount, it is 0.519, lower than North Carolina's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 12% more than women's income in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 12% wage gap accumulates to roughly $196,420 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rocky Mount, North Carolina has narrowed from about 16% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $673 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Rocky Mount | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.4% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 1,264 people are unemployed in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Rocky Mount is 16 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Rocky Mount, North Carolina has fallen from 13.5% to 7.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 17.4% in 2013.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Rocky Mount, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than North Carolina, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Rocky Mount, North Carolina?
Rocky Mount has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $55,511, about 23% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
Are incomes growing in Rocky Mount, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Rocky Mount, North Carolina rose 46%, from $37,921 to $55,511. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +46% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Rocky Mount in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Rocky Mount, North Carolina was $52,486, up 5% from $50,160 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Rocky Mount in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Rocky Mount, North Carolina was $44,341. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $55,511.
Is it hard to find a job in Rocky Mount, North Carolina?
Unemployment in Rocky Mount, North Carolina is 7.0%, well above the North Carolina rate of 4.6%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Rocky Mount, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Rocky Mount is 0.519. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Rocky Mount, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rocky Mount, North Carolina has narrowed from about 16% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $673 since 2009.
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