$61,613/yr
is the income needed to buy the typical $200,624 home in Rocky Mount, NC at today's 6.95% rate — about $1,438/mo. The local median household ($57,437) falls $4,176 short.
The math (shown)
200,624 price − 10% down (20,062) = 180,562 loan
30-yr fixed at 6.95% on 180,562 = 1,195/mo principal+interest
+ 242/mo est. taxes+insurance (1.45%/yr of value — national placeholder)
1,438/mo PITI ÷ 0.28 = 5,134/mo → 61,613/yr required
against Zillow ZHVI 2026-08 (Zillow ZHVI (typical home value, smoothed, all-homes 33–67pct tier)) and the 6.95% FRED 30-yr rate (2026-09-17). Local median income: $57,437 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year, median household income (table B19013)).
Can I afford Rocky Mount, NC on my salary?
Your salary:
Rent vs own here
Honest null: HUD FMR needs a free huduser.gov token (env.HUD_TOKEN). Honest-null until set. (HUD FMR needs a free token; not wired here.)
FAQ
How much do I need to make to live in Rocky Mount, NC?
To buy the typical home, about $61,613/yr. Renting needs less; this page sizes the buy.
What home value is this based on?
Zillow's ZHVI typical-home-value for the Rocky Mount, NC metro (2026-08): $200,624.
Is the mortgage rate current?
Yes — 6.95% from FRED's weekly 30-year fixed average (2026-09-17).
Glossary
ZHVI
Zillow Home Value Index — the typical home value for a region (35th–65th percentile, smoothed, seasonally adjusted).
Front-end DTI
Housing payment as a share of gross income; lenders commonly cap it near 28%.
PITI
Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance — the full monthly housing cost.