1st Advantage MortgageAbout 15% of Robeson County workers commute 45 minutes or more, so vehicle costs weigh on many household budgets. Owners may weigh equity options; renters compare unsecured offers. Either way, check the written APR, total cost and the lender's North Carolina license first.
On this page
- Local snapshot
- Work and pay in Robeson County
- Age, schooling and housing in Robeson County
- The job market around Robeson County
- Monthly budget benchmarks in Robeson County
- What the numbers suggest about borrowing in Robeson County
- Robeson County against similar places
- Robeson County in brief
- A Robeson County borrower checklist
- Guides near Robeson County
- How Robeson County's population is spread
- Types of housing in Robeson County
- Robeson County income ladder
- How Robeson County compares with the counties next door
- Where Robeson County ranks in North Carolina
- Frequently asked questions
Local snapshot
These are Census Bureau estimates (ACS, 2020 to 2024) for Robeson County, North Carolina. A place average is context, while your finances are what a lender reads.
Work and pay in Robeson County
Three sectors dominate the Robeson County workforce in the ACS: education and health care (26% of workers), manufacturing (16%) and retail (11%). The sector where Robeson County stands furthest from the typical place in our set is education and health care (26% here, 22% at the median).
The spread of incomes matters as much as the middle. In Robeson County, 43% of households bring in less than $35,000 a year and 16% bring in $100,000 or more, while 2% reach $200,000 or more. Against our Carolina county medians, Robeson County runs -10 points on $100,000+ households and +14 on households under $35,000. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, is 0.51. Use these shares to understand your area, then run your own income through the calculators.
Age, schooling and housing in Robeson County
A bachelor's degree or more is held by 15% of Robeson County adults aged 25 and up, and the median age is 36.4. Relative to our Carolina county medians: -5.9 years on age, -9 points on degrees.
The housing stock in Robeson County breaks down as 51% detached houses, 4% apartments in larger buildings and 37% mobile homes, per the ACS. Detached homes run 17 points below the typical place in our set.
The job market around Robeson County
Federal labor data show unemployment of 4.3% in Robeson County for September 2026 (preliminary, not seasonally adjusted), down 1.0 points from 5.3% a year earlier. Many lenders offer hardship options, but usually only to borrowers who ask before a payment is missed.
Monthly budget benchmarks in Robeson County
Median rent in Robeson County ($805) runs 23% of the median monthly household income ($3,498 before taxes). The 30% yardstick works out to $1,049. Many lenders also look at total monthly debt payments as a share of gross income; 36% is a widely cited benchmark, worth about $1,259 a month at the median, though each lender sets its own limit. Home prices sit near 2.3x the median household's annual income.
What the numbers suggest about borrowing in Robeson County
Homes in Robeson County cost 2.3 times median income ($94,500 against $41,978), low for our Carolina county set. Affordable housing can leave room in a budget; use it to keep loan terms short.
At 4% remote, Robeson County is a commute-to-work place. Fuel and vehicle costs belong in any loan budget.
Just 66% of Robeson County households own, so most people looking at a personal loan here are renters. Unsecured offers are the main comparison; the cheapest written APR matters most.
Robeson County against similar places
In the 146 Carolina county places in our dataset, Robeson County has a median household income of $41,978 (rank 140 of 146), a median gross rent of $805 (rank 107 of 146), and a median home value of $94,500 (rank 142 of 146). Treat the order as context, nothing more.
Two reference points among North Carolina places of similar population: Henderson County ($68,187 income, $1,187 rent), where Robeson County runs 38% below on income and 32% below on rent and Wayne County ($59,733 income, $965 rent), where Robeson County runs 30% below on income and 17% below on rent. Size any payment to your own budget rather than to a neighbor's.
Robeson County in brief
Lumberton has its own guide; Largest communities in Robeson County, by 2020 to 2024 population: Lumberton, Red Springs, Pembroke, St. Pauls (21 Census places in all). This page is the local guide for Red Springs, Pembroke and the rest of Robeson County.
A Robeson County borrower checklist
- Confirm the Robeson County lender's license with the Commissioner of Banks before you share a Social Security number.
- Confirm there is no prepayment penalty, in writing, so you can clear the balance early.
- Line up three offers for Robeson County and compare APR, fees and total repayment in the side-by-side calculator.
- Run the offer checklist before you sign.
- Put the payment through the DTI calculator before you apply anywhere. Lenders set their own limits.
Guides near Robeson County
How Robeson County's population is spread
The 2024 Census place list for Robeson County has 21 entries: 14 towns or cities with their own government and 7 unincorporated CDPs. Median home values run from $100,800 in Red Springs to $163,700 in Barker Ten Mile (places of 1,000+ people).
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Portion of county | Typical home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumberton | incorporated city | 18,859 | 16.1% | $152,600 |
| Red Springs | incorporated town | 3,125 | 2.7% | $100,800 |
| Pembroke | incorporated town | 2,822 | 2.4% | $129,400 |
| St. Pauls | incorporated town | 2,688 | 2.3% | $111,000 |
| Fairmont | incorporated town | 2,463 | 2.1% | $106,800 |
| Barker Ten Mile | unincorporated (CDP) | 1,156 | 1.0% | $163,700 |
| Rowland | incorporated town | 946 | 0.8% | $118,000 |
| Prospect | unincorporated (CDP) | 907 | 0.8% | $100,700 |
| Parkton | incorporated town | 529 | 0.5% | $151,900 |
| Rennert | incorporated town | 292 | 0.2% | $45,800 |
| Raemon | unincorporated (CDP) | 288 | 0.2% | $96,300 |
| Elrod | unincorporated (CDP) | 246 | 0.2% | n/a |
Types of housing in Robeson County
Detached single-family houses make up 51% of Robeson County's housing units, compared with 65% across North Carolina. After that, the largest category is mobile home at 37%. With 37% manufactured and 1% attached units, Robeson County owners should ask early which loan types fit their home.
| Kind of building | Share in Robeson County | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family detached | 50.9% | -14.3 pts |
| Townhouse or attached | 1.5% | -3.3 pts |
| 2 to 4 units | 5.8% | +1.1 pts |
| 5 to 19 units | 3.0% | -5.2 pts |
| 20 or more units | 1.3% | -4.7 pts |
| Mobile home | 37.5% | +26.5 pts |
Robeson County income ladder
Eight income steps for Robeson County: the largest group, 18% of households, is in the Under $15,000 band. 13.6% of Robeson County households sit at $35,000 to $49,999 and 10.5% at $100,000 to $149,999; the same loan payment means very different things at each.
| Income band | County share | Compared with state |
|---|---|---|
| Under $15,000 | 18.4% | +9.7 pts |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 12.7% | +5.6 pts |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 11.9% | +4.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 13.6% | +1.9 pts |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 16.2% | -0.6 pts |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 10.8% | -2.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 10.5% | -6.2 pts |
| $150,000 or more | 6.0% | -12.7 pts |
How Robeson County compares with the counties next door
Five neighbors within 32 miles, compared on age, schooling and poverty rather than money alone. The most educated is Cumberland County at 28% with a bachelor's degree.
| County | How far | People | Median age | Degree holders | Poverty rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robeson County | - | 116,902 | 36.4 | 15% | 27% |
| Dillon County, SC | 23 mi | 27,862 | 38.2 | 14% | 28% |
| Scotland County, NC | 25 mi | 33,590 | 38.7 | 17% | 26% |
| Hoke County, NC | 27 mi | 53,835 | 33.9 | 23% | 17% |
| Bladen County, NC | 32 mi | 29,566 | 44.7 | 19% | 22% |
| Cumberland County, NC | 32 mi | 338,545 | 32.0 | 28% | 17% |
Where Robeson County ranks in North Carolina
Robeson County ranks furthest from the middle of North Carolina on home values and poverty, then six-figure households.
- On home values ($94,500), Robeson County ranks #1 lowest of 100 statewide, against $213,900 for the middle Carolina county. Little equity to tap; unsecured loans are the norm.
- On poverty (27.2%), Robeson County ranks #1 of 100 statewide, against 15.4% for the middle Carolina county. Assistance programs should come before credit.
- On six-figure households (16%), Robeson County ranks #3 lowest of 100 statewide, against 26% for the middle Carolina county. Smaller loans are the local norm.
- On mobile homes (37.5%), Robeson County ranks #3 of 100 statewide, against 19.0% for the middle Carolina county. Manufactured homes often rule out equity loans.
| Indicator | Robeson County figure | Rank | Median of 146 NC/SC counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home values | $94,500 | #1 lowest of 100 | $213,900 |
| Poverty | 27.2% | #1 of 100 | 15.4% |
| Six-figure households | 16% | #3 lowest of 100 | 26% |
| Mobile homes | 37.5% | #3 of 100 | 19.0% |
Frequently asked questions
Is Robeson County housing expensive relative to income?
Yes by this measure: a $94,500 median home value is about 2.3 times the $41,978 median income. That leaves less room for new payments.
Does living in Robeson County change what I qualify for?
Beyond confirming your state, no. Your answers about the amount, credit, income and payments are all the check uses, and the same rules apply to every Robeson County applicant.
Who regulates personal lenders in North Carolina?
Consumer finance lenders that make small loans to Robeson County residents are licensed by the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks, which also takes complaints. North Carolina prohibits payday lending. Always verify a lender's license and never pay a fee before funding.
How long does a loan decision take for Robeson County residents?
It depends on the lender and verification, from minutes for a prequalification to several days for funding. Speed is worth asking about, but never pay extra for it up front.