Poverty and living standards in Rocky Mount, North Carolina: official figures
19.7% of residents of Rocky Mount (10,490 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 129th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; North Carolina: 13.0%).
How many children live in poverty in Rocky Mount?
33.3% of children under 18 in Rocky Mount lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (3,919 children), 48th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; North Carolina: 17.7%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Rocky Mount?
By age, the poverty rate in Rocky Mount was 35.4% for children under 6 and 14.8% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Rocky Mount live in deep poverty?
4,784 people in Rocky Mount, 9.0% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 166th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Rocky Mount are cost-burdened?
42.2% of renting households in Rocky Mount spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (4,624 households), 54th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; North Carolina: 48.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Rocky Mount spend half their income on rent?
19.0% of renting households in Rocky Mount spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 57th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Rocky Mount are food insecure?
An estimated 28.4% of adults in Rocky Mount experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 62nd highest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 23.0% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Rocky Mount compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Rocky Mount ranks 129 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 126 | McAllen | 20.0% |
| 127 | Houston | 19.9% |
| 128 | Baltimore | 19.7% |
| 129 | Rocky Mount | 19.7% |
| 130 | Savannah | 19.7% |
| 131 | Hamilton | 19.6% |
| 132 | Worcester | 19.6% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Rocky Mount ranks 48 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Bridgeport | 33.5% |
| 46 | Valdosta | 33.4% |
| 47 | Merced | 33.4% |
| 48 | Rocky Mount | 33.3% |
| 49 | Kingsport | 33.3% |
| 50 | Taylor | 33.2% |
| 51 | Springfield | 32.6% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Rocky Mount ranks 166 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 163 | Mobile | 9.0% |
| 164 | Dearborn Heights | 9.0% |
| 165 | Worcester | 9.0% |
| 166 | Rocky Mount | 9.0% |
| 167 | Beaumont | 9.0% |
| 168 | Lowell | 8.9% |
| 169 | Middletown | 8.9% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Rocky Mount ranks 770 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 767 | Plymouth | 42.3% |
| 768 | Waxahachie | 42.3% |
| 769 | Columbus | 42.3% |
| 770 | Rocky Mount | 42.2% |
| 771 | Idaho Falls | 42.2% |
| 772 | Eden Prairie | 42.2% |
| 773 | Fort Smith | 42.1% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Rocky Mount ranks 64 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Waukegan | 28.5% |
| 62 | Hawthorne | 28.4% |
| 63 | Lake Charles | 28.4% |
| 64 | Rocky Mount | 28.4% |
| 65 | Tuscaloosa | 28.3% |
| 66 | San Jacinto | 28.2% |
| 67 | Tulare | 28.1% |
More on Rocky Mount: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
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