Roanoke Rapids, NC · standard

ZIP Code 27870

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

27,236
155/sq mi
$49,502
Median income
$124,300
Median home value
18.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

14th pct
household income, US ZIPs
18th pct
home value, US ZIPs
155
people per sq mi
58%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 27870 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 27870 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 175.9 square miles in Roanoke Rapids, Halifax County, North Carolina. The area is home to 27,236 residents, producing a population density of 155 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 27870 against North Carolina and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 27870 sits at $49,502 (28% below the North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $28,709. The poverty rate stands at 20.2% and the unemployment rate at 9.3%. On housing, the median home value is $124,300 (52% below the state average) with median rent at $873 per month, and 58.4% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 27870 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 18.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.3, and the average commute is 23 minutes. We also surface 4 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Halifax County, so you can benchmark 27870 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 27870

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 27870.

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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 27870, Roanoke Rapids, NC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

27,236

Population

175.9

Area (sq mi)

155

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 27870?

41.3

Median Age

47.5%

Male

52.5%

Female

3.2%

Foreign-Born

White 46.3%
African American 42.1%
Asian 1.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.7%
Hispanic or Latino 4.5%

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?

$49,502

Median Household Income

-28% vs state

$28,709

Per Capita Income

20.2%

Poverty Rate

9.3%

Unemployment Rate

23.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 27870 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$49,502 14th percentile higher than 14% 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 54.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 18.6%

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

What does housing look like?

12,060

Total Housing Units

10,569

Occupied Units

1,491

Vacant Units

2.34

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 58.4%
Renter 41.6%

$124,300

Median Home Value

-52% vs state

$873

Median Rent

1978

Median Year Built

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

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

+21.8%

YoY Change (2024)

193

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+93%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 27870 have increased 21.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +93% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.3% 126
2021 +10.4% 139
2022 +9.4% 152
2023 +4.4% 159
2024 +21.8% 193

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 589 business establishments in ZIP 27870, employing approximately 7,803 people with a combined annual payroll of $322,673,000.

589

Businesses

7,803

Employees

$322.7M

Annual Payroll

17

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 131 22.2%
Health care and social assistance 101 17.1%
Accommodation and food services 73 12.4%
Other services (except public administration) 67 11.4%
Finance and insurance 36 6.1%
Construction 33 5.6%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 29 4.9%
Real estate and rental and leasing 24 4.1%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 24 4.1%
Transportation and warehousing 18 3.1%
Wholesale trade 11 1.9%
Manufacturing 10 1.7%
Information 9 1.5%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 8 1.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 6 1.0%
Educational services 4 0.7%
Management of companies and enterprises 3 0.5%

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 27870 vs 27832 →

ZIP 27870 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 27870 ranks the most populous — useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 27870 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 27870 ranks #4 of 5 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
27832 Gaston, NC 2,847 5.7 mi
27890 Weldon, NC 2,521 7.3 mi
23887 Valentines, VA 574 10.9 mi
27842 Henrico, NC 1,493 10.1 mi

More ZIP Codes in Halifax County

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 27870 in?
ZIP code 27870 (Roanoke Rapids) is located in Halifax County, North Carolina. Halifax County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/halifax-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 27870?
ZIP code 27870 in Roanoke Rapids, NC has a population of 27,236 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 27870?
The median household income in ZIP 27870 is $49,502, which is 35% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 27870?
The median home value in ZIP 27870 is $124,300, which is 55% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 27870?
The largest racial group in ZIP 27870 is White at 46.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 27870?
ZIP code 27870 has 589 business establishments employing approximately 7,803 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 27870?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 27870 are: Retail trade (131), Health care and social assistance (101), Accommodation and food services (73). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 27870?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 27870 increased by 21.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 93%. 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 27870?
In ZIP code 27870, 54.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 18.6% 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 27870?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 27870 is 23.1 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 27870?
In ZIP code 27870, approximately 58.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 41.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 27870?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 27870 is 20.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Official Data Resources for Roanoke Rapids, NC

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.