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Richmond County

NC · Pop. 42,818 · Suburban County

68/100Homestead Score

Richmond County is a suburban county in North Carolina, spanning 474 square miles with 42,818 residents at a density of 90.3 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, corn, soybeans. A median home price of $121,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.93% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 204-day growing season, average summer highs of 89.9°F and average winter lows of 31.2°F. Annual rainfall averages 48 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Firsthealth Moore Regional Hospital - Richmond is 5.3 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 92.2% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.93%
Growing Season: 204 days
Broadband: 92.2%
Density: 90.3/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 204-day growing season in USDA zone 8a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.93% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • A median home price of $121,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 92.2% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Firsthealth Moore Regional Hospital - Richmond, with an emergency room, is just 5.3 miles away — strong local healthcare access.

Cons

  • Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
  • Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
  • A poverty rate of 25.2% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
  • The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.

At a glance

Richmond County, NC is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.

Homestead score
68/100
Median home price
$121k
Property tax
0.93%
Growing season
204 days (zone 8a)
Annual rainfall
48"
Broadband
92.2%
Nearest hospital
Firsthealth Moore Regional Hospital - Richmond, 5.3 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.93%
Median Household Income$43,626
Poverty Rate25.2%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$121K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone8a
Growing Season204 days
Annual Rainfall48 inches
Avg Summer High89.9°F
Avg Winter Low31.2°F
Top CropsHay, Corn, Soybeans

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought5/10
Wildfire8/10
Tornado9/10
Flood6/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalFirsthealth Moore Regional Hospital - Richmond (5.3 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage92.2%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate4.2%
Ag EconomyWeak

Homesteading in Richmond County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Richmond County?
Richmond County is in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 204-day growing season, average summer highs of 89.9°F, and average winter lows of 31.2°F. The established crops are hay, corn, soybeans.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $121,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.93%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 92.2% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Firsthealth Moore Regional Hospital - Richmond is 5.3 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.

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Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.