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 High-density area
- $49,502
- Median income Below-median income area
- $124,300
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 18.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 27870 (Roanoke Rapids, NC) rose +21.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 158.7 in 2023 to 193.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 27870 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Roanoke Rapids, Halifax County, North Carolina, with 27,236 residents across 175.9 square miles, a density of 155 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 27870 reports a modest median household income of $49,502 (28% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $28,709. The poverty rate is 20.2%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $124,300 (52% below the average North Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $873; owner occupancy is 58.4%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 18.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.3, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 4 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Halifax County, so 27870 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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 27870
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Roanoke Rapids, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 27870.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
131 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
101 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
73 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
67 establishments
- Finance and insurance 36
Finance and insurance
36 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, 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; 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
Who lives in ZIP 27870?
41.3
Median Age
47.5%
Male
52.5%
Female
3.2%
Foreign-Born
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 ZIP avg
$28,709
Per Capita Income
20.2%
Poverty Rate
9.3%
Unemployment Rate
23.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 27870 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Roanoke Rapids, NC household income vs. every North Carolina ZIP code
Median household income among 749 reporting North Carolina ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$49,502 17th percentile higher than 17% of 749 North Carolina ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more North Carolina 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
12,060housing units
12,060
Total Housing Units
10,569
Occupied Units
1,491
Vacant Units
2.34
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$124,300
Median Home Value
-52% vs state ZIP avg
$873
Median Rent
1978
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
+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.
- 27870
Roanoke Rapids (27870)
27,236 residents
- 27832 2,847
Gaston (27832)
2,847 residents
- 27890 2,521
Weldon (27890)
2,521 residents
- 27842 1,493
Henrico (27842)
1,493 residents
- 23887 574
Valentines (23887)
574 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 27870 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 27870 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 27842
Henrico (27842)
$91,202 median income
- 23887
Valentines (23887)
$77,614 median income
- 27832
Gaston (27832)
$52,194 median income
- 27870
Roanoke Rapids (27870)
$49,502 median income
- 27890
Weldon (27890)
$36,875 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 27870, both outside NC so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (27,236 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Halifax County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 27870's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 27870 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Roanoke Rapids, NC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.