Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Rockingham, NC Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

8,967

Median Agei

39.2

Race & Ethnicityi

White

52.1%4,673

Black

33.9%3,040

Hispanic/Latino

9.6%857

American Indian/Alaska Native

1.9%167

Two or More

1.6%142

Asian

0.9%79

Other

0.1%9

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3.3%204

High School Diploma

23.9%1,462

Some College (<1 yr)

6.5%399

Some College (1+ yr)

17.6%1,077

Associate's Degree

12.6%773

Bachelor's Degree

12.1%740

Master's Degree

6.8%417

Professional Degree

0.7%40

Doctorate

0.1%9

HS or Higher

83.6%

BA or Higher

19.7%

Graduate+

7.6%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$150,800

Median Renti

$659

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

61.5%2,487

Renter-Occupied

38.5%1,554

Total Units

4,433

Homeownership

61.5%

Vacancy Rate

8.8%

Home Values

Under $50K

5.4%135

$50K–$100K

18.4%457

$100K–$150K

25.9%645

$150K–$200K

21%522

$200K–$300K

21.2%528

$300K–$500K

6.4%160

$500K–$1M

1.6%40

Rent Distribution

Under $500

468

$500–$750

427

$750–$1,000

357

$1,000–$1,250

157

$1,250–$1,500

$1,500–$2,000

Year Built

2020 or later

0.9%41

2010–2019

2.5%111

2000–2009

12.6%557

1990–1999

2.5%109

1980–1989

7.5%334

1970–1979

15.2%673

1960–1969

26.1%1,158

1950–1959

12.6%559

1940–1949

8.7%386

1939 or earlier

11.4%505

Heating Fuel

Electricity

60.4%2,442

Utility Gas

32.7%1,323

Bottled/LP Gas

6.1%245

Fuel Oil

0.5%19

No Fuel

0.3%12

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$37,224

Mean Household Incomei

$55,353

Per Capita Incomei

$24,921

Poverty Ratei

30%

Unemploymenti

11.3%

Labor Forcei

3,750

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

11.6%468

$10K–$15K

12.1%488

$15K–$20K

5.4%218

$20K–$25K

3.1%126

$25K–$30K

10%404

$30K–$35K

2.5%103

$35K–$40K

6.4%257

$40K–$45K

4.6%187

$45K–$50K

4.2%169

$50K–$60K

6.3%254

$60K–$75K

7.3%295

$75K–$100K

9.2%370

$100K–$125K

7.7%312

$125K–$150K

4.9%197

$150K–$200K

2.6%105

$200K+

2.2%88

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

629

Residentsi

1,223

Avg. Tenant Renti

$325/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

11 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing225 homes92% occupied$337/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers168 homes83% occupied$382/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8185 homes90% occupied$253/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC38 homes99% occupied$346/mo rent

811/PRAC13 homes

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $37,224/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $11K/yr

73.3%

Very low income$11K–$19K/yr

21.6%

Low income$19K–$30K/yr

4.4%

Moderate / aboveOver $30K/yr

0.7%

Who Receives This Housing

81.7% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

77.3% of subsidized households are minority

16.7% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

32.1% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

3153.5%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

186

India

Philippines

United Kingdom

Poland

Germany

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

3,296

Avg. Commutei

23.6 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

3,320

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

312(4.7% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

87.2%Insured

12.8%Uninsured