PlainZIP

Rocky Mount, NC · standard

ZIP Code 27801

Edgecombe County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

21,740
121/sq mi
$44,884
Median income
$115,400
Median home value
15.9%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Rocky Mount pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, mixed-tenure area.

9th pct
household income, US ZIPs
15th pct
home value, US ZIPs
121
people per sq mi
49%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 27801 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 27801 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County, North Carolina, with 21,740 residents across 180.1 square miles, a density of 121 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 27801 reports a modest median household income of $44,884 (35% below the North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $22,495. The poverty rate stands at 27.6% and the unemployment rate at 11.1%. Median home value sits at $115,400 (56% below the state average), median rent at $859 a month, and owner-occupancy at 49.3%.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 15.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34.1, and the average commute is 21 minutes. To put 27801 in local context, 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Edgecombe County, for a geography-aware comparison.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 27801

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Rocky Mount, NC

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 27801.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 27801, Rocky Mount, NC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

21,740

Population

180.1

Area (sq mi)

121

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 27801?

34.1

Median Age

48.0%

Male

52.0%

Female

1.9%

Foreign-Born

White 22.6%
African American 71.5%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.2%
Two or More Ethnicities 2.9%
Hispanic or Latino 2.9%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$44,884

Median Household Income

-35% vs state

$22,495

Per Capita Income

27.6%

Poverty Rate

11.1%

Unemployment Rate

21.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 27801 ranks nationally

Rocky Mount, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$44,884 9th percentile higher than 9% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 55.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 15.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

9,152

Total Housing Units

7,222

Occupied Units

1,930

Vacant Units

2.69

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 49.3%
Renter 50.7%

$115,400

Median Home Value

-56% vs state

$859

Median Rent

1973

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+14.9%

YoY Change (2024)

245

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+145%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 27801 have increased 14.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +145% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +8.0% 123
2021 +24.7% 153
2022 +13.5% 173
2023 +23.2% 214
2024 +14.9% 245

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 219 business establishments in ZIP 27801, employing approximately 5,687 people with a combined annual payroll of $205,385,000.

219

Businesses

5,687

Employees

$205.4M

Annual Payroll

13

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 47 21.5%
Health care and social assistance 32 14.6%
Other services (except public administration) 29 13.2%
Construction 23 10.5%
Accommodation and food services 19 8.7%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 12 5.5%
Wholesale trade 11 5.0%
Transportation and warehousing 9 4.1%
Information 9 4.1%
Manufacturing 8 3.6%
Finance and insurance 7 3.2%
Real estate and rental and leasing 5 2.3%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 4 1.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 27801 vs 27809 →

ZIP 27801 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 27801 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 27801 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 27801 ranks #7 of 7 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
27809 Battleboro, NC 5,091 7.2 mi
27803 Rocky Mount, NC 21,227 6.8 mi
27878 Sharpsburg, NC 1,931 6.5 mi
27804 Rocky Mount, NC 29,058 8.1 mi
27864 Pinetops, NC 4,779 8.9 mi
27822 Elm City, NC 8,143 9.6 mi

More ZIP Codes in Edgecombe County

27886 standard
Tarboro, NC
Pop: 21,591
27864 standard
Pinetops, NC
Pop: 4,779
27852 standard
Macclesfield, NC
Pop: 2,977
27878 standard
Sharpsburg, NC
Pop: 1,931
27819 standard
Conetoe, NC
Pop: 330
27881 standard
Speed, NC
Pop: 61

Related Areas

Edgecombe County Rocky Mount, NC North Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 27801 in? ▼
ZIP code 27801 (Rocky Mount) is located in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Edgecombe County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/edgecombe-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 27801? ▼
ZIP code 27801 in Rocky Mount, NC has a population of 21,740 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 27801? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 27801 is $44,884, which is 41% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 27801? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 27801 is $115,400, which is 59% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 27801? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 27801 is African American at 71.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 27801? ▼
ZIP code 27801 has 219 business establishments employing approximately 5,687 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 27801? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 27801 are: Retail trade (47), Health care and social assistance (32), Other services (except public administration) (29). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 27801? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 27801 increased by 14.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 145%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 27801? ▼
In ZIP code 27801, 55.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 15.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 27801? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 27801 is 21.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 27801? ▼
In ZIP code 27801, approximately 49.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 50.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 27801? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 27801 is 27.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.