Goldsboro receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Goldsboro
Rocky Mount
Opportunity
36 · Bottom 13%
vs24 · Bottom 4%
Growth
60 · Top 33%
vs47 · Bottom 45%
Climate
74 · Top 25%
vs75 · Top 18%
Physical resilience
29 · Bottom 18%
vs43 · Bottom 34%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 42%
vs99 · Top 33%
Access
89 · Top 27%
vs73 · Bottom 44%
Economic stability
42 · Bottom 37%
vs40 · Bottom 35%
Measured values
| Metric | Goldsboro | Rocky Mount | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 118,652 | 144,952 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $59,733 | $59,636 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $31,983 | $32,904 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 214/sq mi | 139/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $178,700 | $167,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $965 | $920 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.5% | 62.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.1% | -2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.7% | 20.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.3% | 15.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 884 | 498 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.5 | 3.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 4.2% | -12.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 35°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 52.3" | 44.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 23 mi | 43 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 25.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.3 | 41.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Goldsboro
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Rocky Mount
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Goldsboro
61
Your Score
56
Area Score
Rocky Mount
57
Your Score
54
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Goldsboro, NC Metro Area · Rocky Mount, NC Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology