County · North Carolina

Richmond County, North Carolina

Richmond County, North Carolina. Richmond County had 42,041 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.1% since 2020, while North Carolina grew 7.2%. It holds 9 places (6 cities, villages and boroughs and 3 census-designated) and 11 census tracts. GEOID 37153.

Richmond County is the county of the Rockingham, NC micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

42,041

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 42,946 · ACS 2020-2024: 42,344

Median household income

$44,883

±$5,326 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388

Median home value

$127,800

±$20,258 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900

Median gross rent

$724

±$45 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228

How many people live in Richmond County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 42,946 residents in Richmond County. The Census Bureau estimates 42,041 for July 1, 2025, down 2.1% since 2020, while North Carolina grew 7.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 42,344 over 474 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −75 (42,654)
2021→2022 −283 (42,371)
2022→2023 −256 (42,115)
2023→2024 +22 (42,137)
2024→2025 −96 (42,041)

Richmond County in North Carolina. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Richmond County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	42,344	10,730,404	−2,653
Households	17,026±468	4,282,345	−1,354
Average household size	2.43±0.07	2.44	no clear change
Housing units	19,893±37	4,895,668	−1,692

Richmond County's population since 2000

From 46,564 in 2000 to 42,041 in 2025: down 9.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 46,564
2005 (estimate) 46,310
2010 Census 46,639
2015 (estimate) 45,427
2020 Census 42,946
2025 (estimate) 42,041

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Richmond County?

Richmond County holds 9 places: 6 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 3 census-designated places. The largest is Rockingham with 8,815 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Richmond County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Rockingham	city	9,243	8,967±24	$37,224	$150,800	30.6%	100%
Hamlet	city	6,025	5,961±34	$41,590	$112,600	21.6%	100%
East Rockingham	CDP	3,471	2,779±691	$34,355	$111,800	31.0%	100%
CordovaGEOID 3714600	CDP	1,653	1,372±589	$60,952	$155,000	46.7%	100%
Ellerbe	town	864	1,036±339	$34,808	$78,000	28.4%	100%
Dobbins Heights	town	687	560±210	$18,958	$56,000	50.0%	100%
Hoffman	town	418	821±400	not published	$72,900	58.2%	100%
RoberdelGEOID 3757039	CDP	246	279±207	$85,380	$110,900	8.2%	100%
NormanGEOID 3747260	town	100	89±105	not published	not published	58.4%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Richmond County?

The median resident of Richmond County is 40.5 years old; 23.5% are under 18 and 18.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 54.7%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 31.2%. 4.1% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Richmond County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	40.5±0.5	39.1	no clear change
Under 18 years	23.5%±0.2 pts	21.8%	–
65 years and over	18.1%±0.3 pts	17.2%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	7.8%	11.3%	+1.3 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	54.7%±0.1 pts	60.0%	−2.4 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	31.2%±0.7 pts	20.0%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	1.0%±0.3 pts	3.3%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	2.0%±0.4 pts	0.8%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.8%±0.8 pts	4.1%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.6%±0.5 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	4.1%±0.6 pts	9.1%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	8.1%±1.0 pts	13.5%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	5.7%±1.1 pts	7.4%	–
With a disability	17.1%±1.5 pts	13.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	11.6%±1.6 pts	9.9%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	83.5%±2.4 pts	90.1%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	16.0%±2.0 pts	35.7%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	5.7%±1.4 pts	13.5%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.1%±0.6 pts	3.0%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Richmond County earn?

Half of Richmond County's 17,026 households earn less than $44,883 a year (±$5,326), against $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $44,487 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 25.2% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Richmond County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$44,883±$5,326	$72,388	no clear change
Mean household income	$62,303±$3,914	$101,208	–
Per capita income	$25,908±$1,635	$41,385	no clear change
People below the poverty line	25.2%±3.7 pts	13.0%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	39.1%±8.7 pts	17.7%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	28.6%±3.1 pts	12.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	87.4%±2.2 pts	90.1%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Richmond County?

Owners occupy 65.9% of Richmond County's occupied homes and renters 34.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $127,800 by its owner (±$20,258). The median renter pays $724 a month including utilities, and 41.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Richmond County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$127,800±$20,258	$288,900	+$25,406
Median gross rent	$724±$45	$1,228	−$93
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	41.4%±7.8 pts	39.6%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,169±$55	$1,631	–
Owner-occupied homes	65.9%±3.6 pts	66.6%	no clear change
Housing units	19,893±37	4,895,668	−1,692
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.1%±0.2 pts	1.3%	–
Rental vacancy rate	0.9%±0.9 pts	7.1%	–
Single-family detached homes	68.4%±2.5 pts	65.3%	–
Mobile homes	19.7%±2.3 pts	11.0%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.0%±0.6 pts	3.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	6.4%±1.3 pts	4.9%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Richmond County building?

Builders took permits for 109 new housing units across Richmond County in 2025 (53 single-family), 2.6 per 1,000 residents.

2019 249 units
2020 277 units
2021 30 units
2022 28 units
2023 44 units
2024 58 units
2025 109 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Richmond County get to work?

84.8% of Richmond County's workers drive alone and 4.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 9.8%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Richmond County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	57.3%±2.7 pts	62.8%	–
Unemployment rate	9.8%±2.4 pts	4.7%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	84.8%±2.7 pts	71.5%	–
Carpooled	9.5%±2.4 pts	8.5%	–
Public transportation	0.0%±0.2 pts	0.7%	–
Walked	0.9%±0.7 pts	1.6%	–
Worked from home	4.4%±1.4 pts	16.3%	+2.1 pts
Mean travel time to work	24.1 min±1.6	25.1 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Richmond County's census tracts?

Richmond County is divided into 11 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $26,082 (Tract 9706) to $65,321 (Tract 9704).

Census tracts of Richmond County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 970137153970100	Hoffman (25%)	3,213	3,997±549	$54,844	$167,900	$788	18.3%
Tract 970237153970200	Ellerbe (18%)	4,319	3,483±514	$59,008	$157,800	$589	14.6%
Tract 970337153970300	Rockingham (11%)	4,486	4,497±781	$59,688	$103,600	$1,113	19.5%
Tract 970437153970400	Rockingham (63%)	4,088	4,487±547	$65,321	$179,300	$697	3.7%
Tract 970537153970500	Rockingham	2,335	2,311±418	$45,357	$157,400	$635	28.2%
Tract 970637153970600	Rockingham (57%)	3,990	3,806±594	$26,082	$121,400	$650	55.4%
Tract 970737153970700	East Rockingham (75%)	2,789	2,690±635	$33,361	$100,600	$743	37.4%
Tract 970837153970800	East Rockingham (22%)	4,981	3,919±791	$47,896	$164,100	$867	31.3%
Tract 970937153970900	Hamlet (72%)	5,050	4,890±560	$43,141	$121,300	$733	17.4%
Tract 971037153971000	Hamlet (41%)	3,730	3,243±547	$31,136	$120,400	$401	32.1%
Tract 971137153971100	Hamlet (29%)	3,965	5,021±603	$42,857	$78,700	$840	30.2%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Richmond County compare with North Carolina's other counties?

Richmond County's rank among North Carolina's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	60th of 100
Growth 2020-2025	93rd of 100
Residents per square mile	60th of 100
Median household income	96th of 100
Median home value	88th of 100
Median gross rent	95th of 100
Poverty rate	4th of 100
Bachelor's degree or higher	92nd of 100
Median age	70th of 100

Every county in North Carolina

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Richmond County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.