$61,894/yr
is the income needed to buy the typical $197,692 home in Rocky Mount, NC at today's 7.18% rate — about $1,444/mo. The local median household ($57,437) falls $4,457 short.
The math (shown)
197,692 price − 10% down (19,769) = 177,923 loan
30-yr fixed at 7.18% on 177,923 = 1,205/mo principal+interest
+ 239/mo est. taxes+insurance (1.45%/yr of value — national placeholder)
1,444/mo PITI ÷ 0.28 = 5,158/mo → 61,894/yr required
against Zillow ZHVI 2026-09 (Zillow ZHVI (typical home value, smoothed, all-homes 33–67pct tier)) and the 7.18% FRED 30-yr rate (2026-11-05). 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 $61,894/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 (2026-09): $197,692.
Is the mortgage rate current?
Yes — 7.18% from FRED's weekly 30-year fixed average (2026-11-05).
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.