Rocky Mount, NC at a glance
Median household income
$55,534$4,628 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Rocky Mount, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Rocky Mount, NC? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Rocky Mount, NC MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $913 | $10,956 | $36,520 | 19.7% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $918 | $11,016 | $36,720 | 19.8% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,143 | $13,716 | $45,720 | 24.7% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,550 | $18,600 | $62,000 | 33.5% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,812 | $21,744 | $72,480 | 39.2% |
What a typical income covers in Rocky Mount, NC
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $55,534 a year ($4,628 a month before tax).
What $55,534 leaves after North Carolina taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and North Carolina tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in North Carolina
Living in Rocky Mount, NC: common questions
What is the median household income in Rocky Mount, NC?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Rocky Mount, NC is $55,534 per year (approximately $4,628 per month).
What is the average rent in Rocky Mount, NC?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $913 for a studio, $918 for one bedroom, $1,143 for two, $1,550 for three and $1,812 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Rocky Mount, NC expensive to live in?
Prices there run 12% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 88.0, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Rocky Mount, NC?
To keep a $1,143 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $45,720 a year, or $3,810 a month. That is 82% of what the typical household in Rocky Mount, NC earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Rocky Mount, NC?
On the local median income of $55,534 ($4,628 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,314 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,388 for everything else and $926 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,143 takes 49% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Rocky Mount, NC?
Homes in North Carolina paid 14.7¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $133. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.