RANK #603 / 1001 NAT · #35 / 51 NC · POP 96,216
1YR FORECAST: -0.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +27%
Rocky Mount, a notable town in Nash County, North Carolina, offers a blend of history and modern amenities, including breweries and restaurants at the revitalized Rocky Mount Mills. Nash County is situated on the border of the Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions, approximately 45 minutes from downtown Raleigh. The community provides a slower pace of life, with a commute to Raleigh-Durham International Airport ranging from 25 to 55 minutes. Outdoor recreation is available along the Tar River, which features scenic trails for hiking and paddling. The county also boasts several parks with walking trails, playgrounds, and sports facilities.
Life in Nash County is characterized by a lower cost of living and access to essential services. Many residents own their homes, and the public schools are rated above average. The economy, historically agricultural, has diversified with recent investments in manufacturing and logistics. Companies like Cummins and Pfizer have a presence in the county, and there's a growing focus on life sciences and food innovation. Nash County is also becoming a hub for distribution, with strategic partnerships and the development of shell buildings attracting new businesses.
Nash County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +0.5% YoY, population +0.8%, wages +1.9%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.2x — 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: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 39/100, Nash County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $62,426 combined with job growth of +1.9% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Nash County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $191,000 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.33, with rents averaging $953/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Nash County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.8% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.9% clip. Home values shifted +0.5% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.48% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Nash County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.