1st Advantage MortgageAbout 66% of Richmond County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $44,883. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's North Carolina license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Richmond County
- How much Richmond County households make
- Richmond County housing compared with North Carolina
- The Richmond County job picture
- Places inside Richmond County
- The counties around Richmond County
- Debt-to-income at Richmond County's medians
- What the numbers mean for Richmond County borrowers
- More Richmond County figures
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Richmond County
- More guides for Richmond County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Richmond County
Richmond County is home to about 42,344 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 60th most populous of 100 county-level areas in North Carolina. It covers 474 square miles of land, or about 89 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Richmond County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 9 Census places inside Richmond County, Rockingham leads by population with about 8,967; 6 of the 9 are incorporated.
How much Richmond County households make
The median household income in Richmond County is $44,883; statewide it is $72,388, so Richmond County runs 38% below North Carolina as a whole. That places it 96th among North Carolina's 100 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Richmond County | +/- vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 38.7% | +15.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.2% | +2.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 14.6% | -10.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.5% | -7.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 17% of Richmond County households make $100,000 or more, and 39% make less than $35,000. 25.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.0%). None of these numbers decides a Richmond County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Richmond County housing compared with North Carolina
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $724 in Richmond County versus $1,228 statewide. By the Census definition, 51% of Richmond County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $127,800, about 2.8 times the median household income. Owners occupy 66% of homes. Median construction year: 1976.
| Measure | Richmond County | North Carolina | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $724/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $127,800 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 14% | 13% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
The Richmond County job picture
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Richmond County residents work in education and health care and 15% in manufacturing. Manufacturing stands out: 15% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 9.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Richmond County | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.2% | +2.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.1% | +3.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -0.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.5% | +3.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | -0.6 pts |
| Public administration | 6.9% | +2.8 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Richmond County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Places inside Richmond County
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 52% of Richmond County residents live in one of the 9. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $18,958 in Dobbins Heights to $60,952 in Cordova. Median rent ranges from $575 in Ellerbe to $811 in Hoffman. None of the 9 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockingham | city | 8,967 | $37,224 | $659 | 5 mi |
| Hamlet | city | 5,961 | $41,590 | $640 | 8 mi |
| East Rockingham | CDP | 2,779 | $34,355 | $781 | 6 mi |
| Cordova | CDP | 1,372 | $60,952 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Ellerbe | town | 1,036 | $34,808 | $575 | 4 mi |
| Hoffman | town | 821 | n/a | $811 | 12 mi |
| Dobbins Heights | town | 560 | $18,958 | $577 | 8 mi |
| Roberdel | CDP | 279 | $85,380 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Norman | town | 89 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
The counties around Richmond County
Six nearby counties, 19 to 29 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Richmond County; Moore County is highest at $86,080 and Marlboro County lowest at $34,301. Some neighbors are in South Carolina. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Richmond County resident follows North Carolina rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond County | - | $44,883 | $724/mo | 66% |
| Scotland County, NC | 19 mi | $45,730 | $778/mo | 62% |
| Anson County, NC | 20 mi | $47,302 | $814/mo | 69% |
| Montgomery County, NC | 24 mi | $57,766 | $766/mo | 75% |
| Moore County, NC | 26 mi | $86,080 | $1,254/mo | 76% |
| Marlboro County, SC | 28 mi | $34,301 | $689/mo | 63% |
| Hoke County, NC | 29 mi | $64,912 | $1,089/mo | 73% |
Debt-to-income at Richmond County's medians
How much room does a median Richmond County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $3,740 a month: gross income for a household at the Richmond County median
- Median rent: $724, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 36% cap, $1,346 total minus rent leaves $622
- At 43%, room after rent is $884 a month
If your rent is above $724, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
What the numbers mean for Richmond County borrowers
Based on the Richmond County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Uninsured care. 12% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 20% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Free help first. 25% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Renters under pressure. When 51% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
More Richmond County figures
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. 11.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Richmond County | North Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.0% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.5% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.6% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.7% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 25.2% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.8% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.1% |
| 60+ min | 7.0% |
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Richmond County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Richmond County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for North Carolina borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Lender oversight for Richmond County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Richmond County borrowers answers to the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on North Carolina: North Carolina personal loans.
More guides for Richmond County
For statewide rules and data, see the North Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Richmond County a high-income county?
Its $44,883 median ranks 96th of 100 North Carolina counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Richmond County rent compare with North Carolina?
$724 locally versus $1,228 for the state, 41% below.
What are the biggest places in Richmond County?
By population: Rockingham, Hamlet, East Rockingham, Cordova, Ellerbe. The county has 9 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Richmond County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Richmond County check a lender's license?
With the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.