1st Advantage MortgageAbout 13% of Richmond County workers commute 45 minutes or more, so vehicle costs weigh on many household budgets. For a Richmond County borrower, the safe sequence is the same: price the need, compare APR and fees on several written offers, confirm the North Carolina license, and pick the shortest term whose payment fits.
On this page
- Key figures
- What Richmond County residents do for work
- Who lives in Richmond County
- Unemployment near Richmond County
- A median Richmond County budget
- Reading the Richmond County data as a borrower
- Richmond County against similar places
- Richmond County in brief
- Steps to take first in Richmond County
- How Richmond County's population is spread
- Types of housing in Richmond County
- Eight income bands for Richmond County
- Richmond County beside nearby NC and SC counties
- Richmond County's outlier numbers
- Frequently asked questions
Key figures
Figures are American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates for Richmond County, North Carolina, with margins of error. They describe the place, not you.
What Richmond County residents do for work
Employment among Richmond County residents centers on education and health care (25%), with manufacturing (15%) and retail (10%) next. What sets Richmond County apart is transportation, warehousing and utilities, at 9% of workers where the typical place in our set has 6%. Think of these shares as context for the local economy rather than a prediction about any one household.
At the top of the scale, 3% of Richmond County households earn $200,000 or more; at the bottom, 39% earn under $35,000. Richmond County trails the typical place in our set by 9.4 points at the top of the scale and exceeds it by 9.6 at the bottom.
Who lives in Richmond County
On education and age, Richmond County shows 16% of adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher and a median age of 40.5. That makes Richmond County 1.8 years younger than the middle place in our Carolina county set, with a degree share 7 points lower. Older households more often have fixed incomes to document, such as Social Security or a pension.
Of every 100 homes in Richmond County, about 68 are detached houses and 5 sit in larger apartment buildings. Richmond County has more large-building apartments than the middle of our set, by 0.5 points. Mobile and manufactured homes sit in a different insurance and financing category, which is worth knowing if one is yours.
Unemployment near Richmond County
Richmond County recorded 3.5% unemployment in September 2026 by the BLS county series (preliminary, not seasonally adjusted), down 0.8 points from 4.3% a year earlier.
A median Richmond County budget
Monthly math for a typical Richmond County household: $3,740 before taxes, from a median income of $44,883. After the median rent of $724 (19% of income), the 30% yardstick of $1,122 is not reached. If a lender capped total monthly debt at 36% of gross income, a common benchmark, the median household's ceiling would be about $1,346 a month. Home prices sit near 2.8x the median household's annual income.
Reading the Richmond County data as a borrower
The median home in Richmond County dates from 1976, older than in most of the 146 Carolina county places we cover. Roofs, wiring and HVAC bills come with age; get written estimates before borrowing.
The Census Bureau's estimate for unemployment among Richmond County's labor force is 9.8%, higher than in most of the 146 Carolina county places we cover. If your income is uneven, borrow less, choose a payment you can sustain in a thin month and read the hardship terms.
35% of mortgaged Richmond County owners spend 30 percent or more on housing, a high share in our Carolina county set. If you own, compare an unsecured loan with a HELOC by risk, not only by rate, because a HELOC is secured by the home.
Richmond County against similar places
Out of 146 Carolina county places in the data, Richmond County lands with a median household income of $44,883 (rank 135 of 146), a median gross rent of $724 (rank 135 of 146), and a median home value of $127,800 (rank 122 of 146). Ranks like these are a snapshot that changes each release.
Two reference points among North Carolina places of similar population: Vance County ($50,465 income, $883 rent), where Richmond County runs 11% below on income and 18% below on rent and Jackson County ($55,815 income, $904 rent), where Richmond County runs 20% below on income and 20% below on rent.
Richmond County in brief
Largest communities in Richmond County, by 2020 to 2024 population: Rockingham, Hamlet, East Rockingham, Cordova (9 Census places in all). Residents of Rockingham or anywhere else in Richmond County who do not see a city guide can use this page.
Steps to take first in Richmond County
- Confirm the Richmond County lender's license with the Commissioner of Banks before you share a Social Security number.
- Line up three offers for Richmond County and compare APR, fees and total repayment in the side-by-side calculator.
- Sleep on it. Pressure to sign today is a reason to walk away.
- Confirm there is no prepayment penalty, in writing, so you can clear the balance early.
- Get the same four numbers from every lender: what you receive, the APR, all fees and the total you will repay.
How Richmond County's population is spread
Counting both incorporated towns and CDPs, 9 named places sit inside Richmond County. Cordova has the priciest homes at the median ($155,000); Ellerbe the least expensive ($78,000).
| Place | Status | Residents | Share of county | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockingham | incorporated city | 8,967 | 21.2% | $150,800 |
| Hamlet | incorporated city | 5,961 | 14.1% | $112,600 |
| East Rockingham | unincorporated (CDP) | 2,779 | 6.6% | $111,800 |
| Cordova | unincorporated (CDP) | 1,372 | 3.2% | $155,000 |
| Ellerbe | incorporated town | 1,036 | 2.4% | $78,000 |
| Hoffman | incorporated town | 821 | 1.9% | $72,900 |
| Dobbins Heights | incorporated town | 560 | 1.3% | $56,000 |
| Roberdel | unincorporated (CDP) | 279 | 0.7% | $110,900 |
| Norman | incorporated town | 89 | 0.2% | n/a |
Types of housing in Richmond County
Compared with North Carolina overall, Richmond County has more mobile homes (20% vs 11%) and more detached houses (68% vs 65%). Housing type matters for repair costs in Richmond County: manufactured homes, older detached houses and condos each bring different bills.
| Housing units by type | Richmond County | Gap to North Carolina average |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family detached | 68.4% | +3.1 pts |
| Townhouse or attached | 0.5% | -4.3 pts |
| 2 to 4 units | 6.4% | +1.7 pts |
| 5 to 19 units | 3.4% | -4.9 pts |
| 20 or more units | 1.6% | -4.4 pts |
| Mobile home | 19.7% | +8.7 pts |
Eight income bands for Richmond County
28% of Richmond County households earn less than $25,000 a year, against 16% across North Carolina; 17% earn $100,000 or more. Compared with North Carolina, Richmond County has more households at the very bottom and fewer at the top.
| Income band | County share | Compared with state |
|---|---|---|
| Under $15,000 | 18.4% | +9.7 pts |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 9.2% | +2.1 pts |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 11.1% | +3.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 15.0% | +3.3 pts |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 17.1% | +0.3 pts |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 12.2% | -0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 10.2% | -6.5 pts |
| $150,000 or more | 6.9% | -11.8 pts |
Richmond County beside nearby NC and SC counties
Five neighbors within 28 miles, compared on age, schooling and poverty rather than money alone. The most educated is Moore County at 41% with a bachelor's degree.
| County | How far | People | Median age | Degree holders | Poverty rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond County | - | 42,344 | 40.5 | 16% | 25% |
| Scotland County, NC | 19 mi | 33,590 | 38.7 | 17% | 26% |
| Anson County, NC | 20 mi | 22,289 | 41.9 | 10% | 22% |
| Montgomery County, NC | 24 mi | 26,007 | 44.0 | 19% | 15% |
| Moore County, NC | 26 mi | 104,876 | 43.0 | 41% | 10% |
| Marlboro County, SC | 28 mi | 25,975 | 41.7 | 9% | 29% |
Richmond County's outlier numbers
- Unemployment puts Richmond County at #3 of 100 among North Carolina counties (9.8%). Gather income records before applying.
- On poverty (25.2%), Richmond County ranks #4 of 100 statewide, against 15.4% for the middle Carolina county. Assistance programs should come before credit.
- Car-free households puts Richmond County at #4 of 100 among North Carolina counties (10.7%). Transit and ride costs belong in the budget.
- On six-figure households (17%), Richmond County ranks #5 lowest of 100 statewide, against 26% for the middle Carolina county. Smaller loans are the local norm.
| Indicator | Richmond County figure | Rank | Median of 146 NC/SC counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 9.8% | #3 of 100 | 4.9% |
| Poverty | 25.2% | #4 of 100 | 15.4% |
| Car-free households | 10.7% | #4 of 100 | 5.8% |
| Six-figure households | 17% | #5 lowest of 100 | 26% |
Frequently asked questions
I own my home in Richmond County. Is a personal loan better than a HELOC?
Not always, but it keeps the house out of the deal. With 66% of Richmond County homes owner-occupied, many readers have equity; a HELOC may price lower yet is secured by the home. For a modest, one-time need, an unsecured loan is simpler. Get both quotes in writing.
Do you treat Richmond County applicants differently from anyone else?
No. We never score neighborhoods. Richmond County residents are screened on the same four answers as everyone else.
Who licenses lenders that serve Richmond County?
For Richmond County borrowers, the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks is the licensing agency for consumer finance lenders. Payday loans are illegal in the state.
Is same-day funding realistic in Richmond County?
Sometimes, after full verification, but plan for a few business days. Treat any promise of instant cash for an upfront fee as a scam.