1st Advantage MortgageAbout 72% of Rowan County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $65,725. 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
- Who lives in Rowan County
- How much Rowan County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Rowan County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Rowan County
- Towns and communities in Rowan County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Budget math at the Rowan County median
- What the numbers mean for Rowan County borrowers
- Who lives in Rowan County, in numbers
- A Rowan County borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Rowan County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Rowan County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Rowan County's population at 149,875; only 19 of North Carolina's 100 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 512 square miles, that is close to 293 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (9 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Salisbury, with about 35,825 residents, or 24% of the county.
How much Rowan County households make
At $65,725, the typical Rowan County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 36th among North Carolina's 100 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Rowan County | Gap to North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.4% | +2.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.9% | +3.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.2% | -1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.5% | -3.9 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. 16.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.0%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.445 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Jobs and commutes in Rowan County
The biggest employer of Rowan County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by manufacturing (15%). Compared with North Carolina, the county leans toward manufacturing (15% against 12%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.3% in Rowan County. Long commutes are common here: 17% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 6.5% of the total (5.3% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Rowan County workers | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.8% | -0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.8% | +3.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +1.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.3% | -2.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | -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.
Rent, home values and ownership in Rowan County
A typical Rowan County rental runs $1,013 a month including utilities, which is 18% below North Carolina. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 47% of renter households here. With a median value of $238,400, a typical Rowan County house costs 3.6 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 72% of homes. The median year built is 1983.
| Cost | Rowan County | North Carolina figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,013/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $238,400 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.4% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 13% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Towns and communities in Rowan County
11 Census places fall mainly inside Rowan County; the 11 biggest are below. They account for 60,960 residents, leaving about 59% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $34,417 in East Spencer to $139,844 in Faith. Live in one of these Rowan County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salisbury | city | 35,825 | $53,716 | $1,071 | 2 mi |
| China Grove | town | 4,530 | $54,083 | $993 | 6 mi |
| Landis | town | 3,765 | $75,000 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Spencer | town | 3,349 | $65,465 | $1,000 | 7 mi |
| Enochville | CDP | 3,321 | $66,225 | $1,089 | 12 mi |
| Granite Quarry | town | 3,043 | $57,981 | $1,099 | 5 mi |
| Rockwell | town | 2,782 | $69,632 | $952 | 9 mi |
| East Spencer | town | 1,434 | $34,417 | $677 | 6 mi |
| Cleveland | town | 1,080 | $58,750 | $739 | 11 mi |
| Faith | town | 917 | $139,844 | $944 | 5 mi |
| Gold Hill | CDP | 914 | $73,187 | n/a | 13 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Cabarrus County at 18 miles out to Mecklenburg County at 32. Cabarrus County leads the group on income ($89,005), Stanly County trails ($60,704), and Rowan County out-earns 2 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rowan County | - | $65,725 | $1,013/mo | 72% |
| Cabarrus County, NC | 18 mi | $89,005 | $1,414/mo | 71% |
| Davie County, NC | 20 mi | $75,057 | $867/mo | 82% |
| Davidson County, NC | 21 mi | $64,172 | $901/mo | 74% |
| Iredell County, NC | 23 mi | $81,419 | $1,252/mo | 72% |
| Stanly County, NC | 27 mi | $60,704 | $861/mo | 74% |
| Mecklenburg County, NC | 32 mi | $87,005 | $1,627/mo | 55% |
Budget math at the Rowan County median
Rowan County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Rowan County: $5,477
- Less median rent of $1,013, which is 18% of it
- $1,342: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
What the numbers mean for Rowan County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Rowan County borrowers.
- 15% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Rent squeeze. 47% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Who lives in Rowan County, in numbers
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. 9.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Rowan County | North Carolina | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.3% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.1% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.3% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.0% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.5% |
| 60+ min | 7.1% |
A Rowan County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Rowan County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in North Carolina.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Licensing and complaints for Rowan County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Rowan County, check the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the North Carolina state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
The North Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Rowan County household make?
About $65,725 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 9% below the North Carolina median.
How much is rent in Rowan County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,013 a month; 47% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Rowan County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 72% of Rowan County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Rowan County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Salisbury, China Grove, Landis, Spencer, Enochville and 6 more.
Does living in Rowan County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Rowan County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.