City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Red Oak, NC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Red Oak - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

3,372
Residents
$81,464
Median income
$236,200
Median home
$1,143
Median rent (state)

Red Oak - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Red Oak lands in the 63rd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

63rd
percentile, household income
52nd
percentile, home value
32nd
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Red Oak, NC

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 3,372 residents in Red Oak, a small town within North Carolina. Red Oak households earn a median of $81,464 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Typical homes in Red Oak are valued around $236,200, and the median resident age is 51.2 years. About 30.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 50.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: the state registers 94.3 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,143 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts North Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $215 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 80.6 out of 100 (High).

Population

3,372 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$81,464 /yr

Poverty 0.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Red Oak compare to other US cities?

Where Red Oak sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 63% higher than other cities
Home value 52% pricier than other cities
Median rent 32% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Red Oak against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Carolina-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Red Oak near the bottom of North Carolina's cities

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Red Oak ranks #653 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Red Oak only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#148 of 700
79th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#362 of 746
50th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#233 of 708
67th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#653 of 746
0th percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#231 of 746
69th percentile in North Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within North Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

63rdIncome percentile

63rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Red Oak's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$236,200 48th percentile more affordable than 48% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Red Oak $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Red Oak, NC Red Oak, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Red Oak, NC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Red Oak, NC median $81,464/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Red Oak, NC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Red Oak, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 30.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 50.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
3,372
Median Income
$81,464
Median Home Value
$236,200
Median Age
51.2
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
50.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
30.1%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,300 residents3,400 residents3,500 residents3,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,355 residents 3,523 residents ▲ +5.0%
Red Oak's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.0%
Carpool
6.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
5.5%
Other
3.8%

Based on 1,424 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Red Oak sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,143/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
80.6 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Lake Park
3,365 people
Enochville
3,392 people
Windsor
3,417 people
Rural Hall
3,421 people
Wallace
3,438 people
Spencer
3,305 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Red Oak's 3,372 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Avalon, CA
3,373 people
North Shore, CA
3,373 people
Rio Dell, CA
3,371 people
Waldron, AR
3,370 people
Newburgh, IN
3,370 people
Breckenridge, MN
3,369 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Red Oak's $81,464 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Quinebaug, CT
$81,458 median income
Donnelly, MN
$81,458 median income
Fox Lake, MT
$81,458 median income
Martell, NE
$81,458 median income
Palmyra, NE
$81,458 median income
Beaverdam, OH
$81,458 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Red Oak, NC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Red Oak, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 85.4% 8.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 85.4% Black or African American 8.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 1.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 5.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Red Oak compares to nearby North Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Red Oak (this city) 3,372 $81,464
Lake Park 3,365 $76,366
Enochville 3,392 $65,328
Windsor 3,417 $38,631
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Red Oak, NC?

What is the population of Red Oak, NC? +

3,372 people live in Red Oak, NC according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Red Oak, NC? +

Red Oak households earn a median of $81,464 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Red Oak? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Red Oak; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Red Oak, NC? +

A typical home in Red Oak is worth $236,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.