State rank#20 of 100
Smallest county149,875 residentsWake County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 37159
Rowan County, North Carolina
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population149,875
Household income$65,725
Unemployment3.5%
Life expectancy72.7 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Rowan County has 149,875 residents and ranks #20 by population among North Carolina county equivalents. Median household income is $65,725. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.5%. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within North Carolina
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Rowan County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Rowan County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $238,400 median home value and $1,013/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $65,725, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Rowan County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, uninsured, and mental health access. College attainment is 23.3% and life expectancy is 72.7 years.
Potential advantages
- Unemployment rate: 3.5%, rank #32 of 100 available North Carolina counties.
- Uninsured: 11.4%, rank #33 of 100 available North Carolina counties.
- Mental health access: 1 per 384 residents, rank #33 of 99 available North Carolina counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Life expectancy: 72.7 years, rank #77 of 100; investigate local variation before moving.
- Primary care access: 1 per 2,905 residents, rank #71 of 98; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median gross rent: $1,013/mo, rank #63 of 100; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within North Carolina
Rank and range use only counties in North Carolina with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$65,725
$65,725; above the state county median of $60,230.
State rank #36 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$238,400
$238,400; above the state county median of $219,700.
State rank #58 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,013/mo
$1,013/mo; above the state county median of $886/mo.
State rank #63 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3.5%
3.5%; below the state county median of 3.7%.
State rank #32 of 100 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
23.3%
23.3%; below the state county median of 23.5%.
State rank #52 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
72.7 years
72.7 years; below the state county median of 74.2 years.
State rank #77 of 100 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
19.2%
19.2%; above the state county median of 18.9%.
State rank #55 of 100 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
11.4%
11.4%; below the state county median of 12.3%.
State rank #33 of 100 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 2,905 residents
1 per 2,905 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 2,158 residents.
State rank #71 of 98 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 384 residents
1 per 384 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 521 residents.
State rank #33 of 99 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Rowan County FAQ
Is Rowan County a good place to live?
Rowan County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, uninsured, and mental health access. College attainment is 23.3% and life expectancy is 72.7 years.
What should I know before moving to Rowan County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $238,400 median home value and $1,013/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $65,725, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Rowan County?
Rowan County has 149,875 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Rowan County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 37159; the parent state FIPS is 37.
What is the median household income in Rowan County?
The ACS median household income is $65,725.
How much does housing cost in Rowan County?
Housing benchmarks are $238,400 median home value and $1,013/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $65,725, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Rowan County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.5%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
Continue exploring