1st Advantage MortgageIn Moore County, North Carolina, the typical household earns $86,080 a year and the typical rent is $1,254. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Moore County at a glance
- How much Moore County households make
- The Moore County job picture
- Renting and owning in Moore County
- Moore County and the counties next door
- The communities that make up Moore County
- A Moore County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Moore County borrowers
- Moore County households compared
- Licensing and complaints for Moore County
- Before you sign
- More guides for Moore County
- Frequently asked questions
Moore County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Moore County's population at 104,876; only 26 of North Carolina's 100 county-level areas are larger. It covers 698 square miles of land, or about 150 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Pinehurst is the biggest of its 13 Census places, at roughly 18,256 people (17% of the county total).
How much Moore County households make
Half of Moore County households take in less than $86,080 a year and half take in more, 19% above the North Carolina median of $72,388. That places it 10th among North Carolina's 100 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Moore County | +/- vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.3% | -2.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.6% | -3.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.4% | +5.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.7% | +1.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 42% of Moore County households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. Census counts 10.1% of Moore County residents in poverty, against 13.0% across North Carolina. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.449 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Moore County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
The Moore County job picture
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 11%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 26% locally and 23% for North Carolina. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.8% in Moore County. Long commutes are common here: 20% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Moore County workers | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.7% | +3.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | -0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.4% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.5% | -3.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.0% | -2.6 pts |
| Construction | 6.8% | -0.6 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Renting and owning in Moore County
A typical Moore County rental runs $1,254 a month including utilities, which is 2% above North Carolina. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 49% of renter households here. Home values center on $351,400, or 4.1 years of median income. Owners occupy 76% of homes.
| Home costs | Moore County | North Carolina | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,254/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $351,400 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.9% | 11.0% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Moore County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Moore County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Lee County at 21 miles out to Scotland County at 32. Chatham County leads the group on income ($94,317), Richmond County trails ($44,883), and Moore County out-earns 5 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moore County | - | $86,080 | $1,254/mo | 76% |
| Lee County, NC | 21 mi | $65,387 | $1,017/mo | 67% |
| Montgomery County, NC | 24 mi | $57,766 | $766/mo | 75% |
| Hoke County, NC | 25 mi | $64,912 | $1,089/mo | 73% |
| Richmond County, NC | 26 mi | $44,883 | $724/mo | 66% |
| Chatham County, NC | 31 mi | $94,317 | $1,180/mo | 81% |
| Scotland County, NC | 32 mi | $45,730 | $778/mo | 62% |
The communities that make up Moore County
13 Census places fall mainly inside Moore County; the 13 biggest are below. They account for 65,192 residents, leaving about 38% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $126,450 at the median in Whispering Pines, $40,750 in Taylortown. This guide covers each of the 13 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinehurst | village | 18,256 | $109,802 | $1,664 | 8 mi |
| Southern Pines | town | 16,420 | $88,535 | $1,354 | 9 mi |
| Aberdeen | town | 9,228 | $75,078 | $1,244 | 12 mi |
| Whispering Pines | village | 5,211 | $126,450 | $2,336 | 8 mi |
| Seven Lakes | CDP | 4,535 | $91,085 | $914 | 6 mi |
| Carthage | town | 2,896 | $82,695 | $904 | 5 mi |
| Foxfire | village | 1,925 | $85,117 | $1,598 | 10 mi |
| Robbins | town | 1,893 | $53,438 | $688 | 10 mi |
| Pinebluff | town | 1,806 | $80,833 | $1,176 | 14 mi |
| Vass | town | 1,644 | $73,581 | $881 | 12 mi |
| Taylortown | town | 764 | $40,750 | $1,176 | 6 mi |
| Cameron | town | 364 | $71,875 | $825 | 14 mi |
| Jackson Springs | CDP | 250 | $100,144 | n/a | 10 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
A Moore County household budget, worked through
Moore County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $7,173 a month: gross income for a household at the Moore County median
- Rent at the median, $1,254, takes 17% of that
- $1,328: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
What the numbers mean for Moore County borrowers
What the Moore County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Commuter costs. 20% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Higher earners. 42% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Rent squeeze. 49% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Moore County households compared
College graduates make up 41% of the adult population. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Moore County | All of North Carolina | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 41.0% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.3% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.6% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.2% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.1% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.2% |
| 60+ min | 8.3% |
Licensing and complaints for Moore County
The North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks is the place to verify any lender's North Carolina license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on North Carolina: North Carolina personal loans.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Moore County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Moore County
The North Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Moore County earn?
The median is $86,080; 42% earn $100,000 or more and 20% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Moore County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,254 against $1,228 statewide, and 49% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Moore County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen, Whispering Pines, Seven Lakes and 8 more.
Can Moore County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every North Carolina county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Moore County residents?
The North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks licenses consumer lenders in North Carolina; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.