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City · 14,856 residents · Halifax County, North Carolina

Roanoke Rapids , North Carolina

In Roanoke Rapids, a typical home is worth $142,700 and typical rent is $858 a month. Compared with all of Halifax County, the typical home value is 34% higher, typical household income is 18% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 13 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $142,700

    34% above the county

    51% below North Carolina

    • Roanoke Rapids
    • Halifax
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $858a month

    6% above the county

    30% below North Carolina

    • Roanoke Rapids
    • Halifax
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $53,690a year

    18% above the county

    26% below North Carolina

    • Roanoke Rapids
    • Halifax
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    50%

    13 points below the county

    17 points below North Carolina

    • Roanoke Rapids
    • Halifax
    • North Carolina

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$130,490
2.5% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$950 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Roanoke Rapids is in Halifax County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Halifax County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Roanoke Rapids apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. The typical home in Roanoke Rapids is worth $142,700, 34% more than in Halifax County as a whole ($106,200).

  2. 50% of households in Roanoke Rapids own their home, against 63% in Halifax County.

  3. The typical household income in Roanoke Rapids is $53,690, 18% more than in Halifax County as a whole ($45,590).

  4. 13% of households in Roanoke Rapids have no internet at home (21% in Halifax County).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Roanoke Rapids

What homes there are in Roanoke Rapids, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Roanoke Rapids, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Halifax County, 6.

Year built

In Roanoke Rapids, half of the homes were built before 1968; in Halifax County, before 1979.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 98% of owner-occupied homes in Roanoke Rapids sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Halifax County is $1,012; about 70% of rents in Roanoke Rapids are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,188 a month

Halifax County: $1,205 a month

Without a mortgage

$500 a month

Halifax County: $480 a month

Owners with a mortgage

62%

Halifax County: 46%

In Roanoke Rapids, 62% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,188 a month, about the same as in Halifax County.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Roanoke Rapids rose 27%; in Halifax County, it rose 23%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Roanoke Rapids rose 19%, more than in Halifax County (13%).

Here income gained ground: typical income rose 43%, against +27% for home values and +19% for rent.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureRoanoke RapidsHalifax CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate7.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.8%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.372.282.442.53
Drive alone 74%76%72%69%
Carpool 11%10%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Work from home 8%8%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate5%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

A household in Roanoke Rapids has 2.37 people on average, about the same as in Halifax County (2.28).

To get to work, 74% of workers in Roanoke Rapids drive alone; in Halifax County, 76%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Roanoke Rapids?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Roanoke Rapids, worth $142,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 28% of the typical household income in Roanoke Rapids, which is $53,690 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Halifax County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Roanoke Rapids. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $4,995 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,235

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$140,115
Total interest
$201,592
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,410 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,253 a month

    Your payment · 28%

  • Tight

    $1,253 to $1,611 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,611 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Roanoke Rapids ($53,690 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,235
Principal & interest$949
Property tax$163
Home insurance$60
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$63

You need at least $4,995 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Roanoke Rapids and Halifax County

Roanoke Rapids is in Halifax County, North Carolina. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Roanoke Rapids's own numbers

Typical home value
$142,700
Typical monthly rent
$858
Typical yearly household income
$53,690
Households that own their home
50%
Effective property tax rate
1.37%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Halifax County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,012
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+53%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.2%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Halifax County.

Everything about Halifax County

Buying

Buying a home in Roanoke Rapids

A typical home in Roanoke Rapids is worth $142,700: 34% above the county and 51% below North Carolina. With the typical household income in Roanoke Rapids ($53,690 a year), a typical home costs 2.7 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Roanoke Rapids 2.7 years
  • Halifax 2.3 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Halifax County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Halifax County rose 72% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Halifax County.

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.7% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +53% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +72% +107% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Roanoke Rapids next to Halifax County, North Carolina and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Roanoke Rapids $142,700
  • Halifax $106,200
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Roanoke Rapids $858
  • Halifax $813
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Roanoke Rapids $53,690
  • Halifax $45,590
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Roanoke Rapids next to Halifax County and North Carolina
Measure Roanoke Rapids Halifax County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $142,700 $106,200 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $858 $813 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $53,690 $45,590 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 50% 63% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,960 $1,216 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.37% 1.15% 0.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 43% 49% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Halifax County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Roanoke Rapids

For a typical $142,700 home in Roanoke Rapids, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Roanoke Rapids's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,235a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $4,995
    Cash to close
    $9,276
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $63

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,209a month

    Down payment
    $7,135
    Cash to close
    $11,416
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $68

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $996a month

    Down payment
    $28,540
    Cash to close
    $32,821
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,128a month

    Down payment
    $21,405
    Cash to close
    $25,686
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Roanoke Rapids and for Halifax County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Roanoke Rapids

1.37%of the home’s value each year

$1,960 a year for the typical owner in Roanoke Rapids.

  • Roanoke Rapids 1.37%
  • Halifax 1.15%
  • North Carolina 0.66%

What North Carolina publishes Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion (North Carolina General Assembly (statute))

Exemptions and deadlines in North Carolina

Flood risk in Halifax County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Halifax County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.2%
350
Of those, with NFIP insurance
9.7%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.2% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 9.7% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Roanoke Rapids

Typical rent in Roanoke Rapids is $858 a month: 6% above the county. In Roanoke Rapids, 43% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Halifax County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,012 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.46 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Halifax County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $782 $15.04 $31,280
1 bedroom $787 $15.13 $31,480
2 bedrooms $1,012 $19.46 $40,480
3 bedrooms $1,375 $26.44 $55,000
4 bedrooms $1,583 $30.44 $63,320

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Roanoke Rapids

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Roanoke Rapids is in ZIP code 27870.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,050: $38 more than the fair market rent for Halifax County ($1,012).

  • 27870 $1,050$1,430

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Roanoke Rapids when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Roanoke Rapids

HUD lists 18 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Roanoke Rapids. These are the largest.

  • Creekside/Oakridge 520 Becker Dr, Roanoke Rapids 27870 244 low-income homes · Run by Roanoke Rapids Housing Authority · Average payment: $351 a month · Average wait: 21 months · Homes at several sites (252) 537-0552
  • Fairfield 100 Nc Highway 125, Roanoke Rapids 27870 72 low-income homes · 1 bd: 24 · 2 bd: 48 · In service since 2011 · For families
  • Chapel Ridge 301 Jesslyns Dr, Roanoke Rapids 27870 50 low-income homes · 2 bd: 32 · 3 bd: 18 · In service since 2011 · For families
  • Rooney Ridge 114 Hunting Ridge Rd, Roanoke Rapids 27870 50 low-income homes · 1 bd: 24 · 2 bd: 26 · In service since 2019 · For older adults
  • River View Green 507 Riverview Ct, Roanoke Rapids 27870 44 low-income homes · 2 bd: 36 · 3 bd: 8 · In service since 2005 · For people with disabilities, families, people experiencing homelessness

See all 32 buildings in Halifax County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Roanoke Rapids

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Halifax County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Roanoke Rapids

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Roanoke Rapids or Halifax County. The ones below are statewide in North Carolina: they work in Roanoke Rapids the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in North Carolina

  • NC Home Advantage Mortgage

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA fixed-rate mortgage with down payment assistance, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment

    Statewide in North Carolina

    A fixed amount of NCHFA down payment assistance for first-time buyers and veterans in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA interest-free loan with deferred payments of up to 25% of the price (maximum $50,000) for the down payment of low- and moderate-income buyers in North Carolina; you apply through a member organization. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Roanoke Rapids

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Roanoke Rapids, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Choanoke Area Development Association of Nc, Inc.

    120 Sessoms Dr, Rich Square · 23 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 7 more
    (252) 539-4155

  • Housing Authority of the City of Rocky Mount, NC

    901 Authority Dr, Rocky Mount · 35 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (252) 977-3141

  • Wilson Community Improvement Association, Inc.

    504 Green St E, Wilson · 52 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    252-243-4855x214

All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near Roanoke Rapids

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Roanoke Rapids

HUD’s record names them for Roanoke Rapids or Halifax County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

All housing agencies in North Carolina Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Roanoke Rapids, with the typical home value.

Everything about Halifax County Housing in North Carolina

Neighboring counties

If Halifax County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Roanoke Rapids.

All guides
Three generations of a family gather on the porch of their home.

Questions

Housing questions about Roanoke Rapids

Short answers with the numbers for Roanoke Rapids and all of Halifax County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Roanoke Rapids?

The typical home value in Roanoke Rapids is $142,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Halifax County it is $106,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Roanoke Rapids?

Typical rent in Roanoke Rapids is $858 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Halifax County is $1,012.

What is the FHA loan limit in Roanoke Rapids?

Roanoke Rapids uses the FHA limit for all of Halifax County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Roanoke Rapids?

The typical homeowner in Roanoke Rapids pays $1,960 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.37% of the home’s value; in Halifax County, the rate is 1.15%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Roanoke Rapids?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Halifax County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).