RANK #290 / 1001 NAT · #18 / 51 NC · POP 53,835
1YR FORECAST: +0.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +20%
Raeford, the county seat, anchors Hoke County, a community in North Carolina's Coastal Plain and Sandhills regions. The county is approximately 20 miles from Fayetteville and Pinehurst, offering a balance of rural living with access to larger cities. A significant portion of Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) lies within the county's northern third, influencing the local population and economy. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore the Hoke Community Forest, offering marked trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, or visit the Calloway Forest Preserve, known for its longleaf pine habitats and diverse wildlife. The county also hosts the annual North Carolina Turkey Festival, a major event celebrating the state's turkey production.
Life in Hoke County often appeals to those seeking a quieter pace, with many residents owning their homes. The community has seen growth, partly due to its proximity to Fort Liberty, attracting military families and retirees. Hoke County Schools serves over 8,700 students across 14 schools, including Hoke County High School. Commute options include personal vehicles and the Hoke Area Transit Service (HATS), which provides door-to-door public transportation within and to neighboring counties. The local economy, historically rooted in agriculture, particularly poultry production, is experiencing new investments in manufacturing and infrastructure, contributing to job growth and community enhancements.
Hoke County is one of 35 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -0.1% runs below the profile's typical +1.4%.
See all 35 Secondary Market Surge counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks overvalued at 26.5x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Hoke County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Pennsylvania Transformer Technology Expansion
Pennsylvania Transformer Technology, LLC (PTT)
|
$102M | Under Construction |
|
County-wide Infrastructure and Facilities Upgrades (Proposed)
Hoke County
|
$54M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 71/100, Hoke County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +2.6%, and median household income stands at $64,912 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in NC.
Housing in Hoke County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $219,300 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.30, with rents averaging $1,089/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Hoke County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.4% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.6% clip. Home values shifted -0.1% in the past year.
In significant numbers — 5.52% of Hoke County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.