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Pros and Cons of Living in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina

Roanoke Rapids

City in North Carolina

LIVABILITY RATING

70

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City Scores and Ratings

B-

LIVABILITY

A+

COST

B

EDUCATION

F

CRIME

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Pros and Cons of Living in Roanoke Rapids

You might be looking to move to Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina or just interested in the city’s livability, so to help you, we’ve put together the pros and cons of living in Roanoke Rapids. This assessment ranks the factors used to assess livability and compares them against other cities on a national and state level. While this assessment should give a good detailed idea about the advantages and disadvantages of living in Roanoke Rapids, it might not incorporate all areas that might appeal to some people.

Since moving to a new city can be a big decision. Hopefully, this evaluation will help you in your career change, relocation, or just a change.

Summary of Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

  • Crime
  • Population Size
  • Declining Population Growth
  • High Poverty Rate

Details of Pros and Cons

Living in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina

Roanoke Rapids is a small city in the state of North Carolina which is located in the county of Halifax. Roanoke Rapids in the past 5 years has seen a slight decrease in residents. The population has reached 14937 with a population growth rate of -1.2% in the last year and -6.4% in the last 5 years.Living in Roanoke Rapids has a suburban feel, which can be nice for families looking for more space than larger densely packed cities for the money and a good area to raise children.

City Type:

Suburban

Home Value:

$112,900

Mortgage:

$1,050

The estimates above for a typical home value and mortgage are based on median values for the area. Data sources: American Community Survey and the US Census.

Is Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina a good place to live?

Yes, Roanoke Rapids is a great place to live. Roanoke Rapids ranks well in a combination of factors and diversity. Roanoke Rapids  truly has something for everyone, and that’s why it’s a great place to call home.

Ultimately, what makes a great city to live in is subjective. Some people might prefer a smaller city with a tight-knit community, while others might prefer a larger city with more options. The important thing is that a city provides what its residents need and want. If a city has everything a person is looking for, it can be a great place to live.

There are a lot of factors that make a city a good place to live. One of the most important is affordability. Housing costs shouldn’t consume too much of a person’s income. Another important factor is job availability. A city should have a healthy economy and a variety of jobs to choose from.

A city also needs to be safe. People should feel comfortable walking around at night and there shouldn’t be a lot of crime. Amenities are another important factor. A city should have a variety of restaurants, bars, and other places to go out. It’s also nice if a city has a lot of parks and green spaces.

Finally, a city should be diverse. There should be a variety of cultures and religions represented. People should feel welcome to live in any part of the city. A city that meets all these criteria is a great place to live.

Pros and Cons Details

Pros of Living in Roanoke Rapids

  • Livability – Roanoke Rapids’s overall livability score is above average. This rating is the sum of the city’s data points and factors, and then a weighting of these variables is used to determine a good standard quality of life compared to other cities. The livability score considers education, crime, cost of living, and residents’ overall happiness calculated as a predictive index through our advanced statistical models.
  • Cost of Living – When choosing a new place to live, the cost of living is a significant consideration. The cost of living in Roanoke Rapids is lower than the national average and most cities in the state. While some areas can be higher than others on a state and federal level, the overall average of housing costs, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services are less expensive.
  • Education – See our full report on education in Roanoke Rapids, and why it is a significant pro and consideration for living here.

Cons of Living in Roanoke Rapids

  • Crime – See our full report on crime in Roanoke Rapids, and why it is a consideration for living here.
  • Population Size – The city only has 14,937 residents which is considered very small. Different surveys have shown that economic conditions are much worse in small towns than in bigger cities.
  • Declining Population Growth – The population of Roanoke Rapids has seen a steady decline in the past 5 years. While a population decline can happen for many reasons, it might not be a concern, but it is something to watch. A decrease in the residents of a city has many factors or one critical incident. Reasons residents move away from an area can be due to short-term events, such as pandemics, conflicts, food shortages, other catastrophes, or long-term demographic patterns, such as the low birth rate or residents’ migration. These also can trigger a domino effect, which can trigger a further population decline because of economic impacts since there is less demand for basic services such as hotels, restaurants, and shops. The employment in these sectors then suffers.
  • High Poverty Rate – Roanoke Rapids has a poverty rate of 18.3% of residents, which is higher than in other cities in the United States. The average poverty rate across cities in America is about 10-13%.

Population & Growth

Population

14,937

1 Year Growth

-1.2%

5 Year Growth

-6.4%

Who is Living in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina? Demographics

The city is filled with many young adults and people looking to start a family. The median age in the city is about 37 years old. The typical family has on average 3.1 people including children and parents. In terms of diversity, on a national level, Roanoke Rapids ranks number 11131 which is below the national average for diversity and on a state level ranks 357 which is below the state average.

 

 

Median Age:

36.7

Average Family Size:

3.11

People in Poverty %:

18.3%

Data sources: American Community Survey and the US Census.

A city’s demographics are important for a variety of reasons. From a business standpoint, knowing the age, income, and education level of a city’s residents can help companies to decide where to locate their businesses. It can also give them insight into what type of products or services will be in demand. For government officials, demographics can play a role in everything from budgeting to planning new infrastructure projects. And for individuals, it can be helpful to know the demographics of a city before moving there, as it can give you a sense of what to expect in terms of your neighbors and the overall atmosphere of the community.

Of course, demographics can also have some drawbacks. If a city’s residents are largely of one age group or income level, it can create challenges in providing adequate services and amenities. And if a city’s demographics change rapidly, it can be difficult for residents to keep up with the changing needs of the community. Nevertheless, knowing the demographics of a city is important for both individuals and businesses alike.

Population of Male and Female Residents

Male
46.3%
Female
53.7%

How Does Gender Imbalance Impact a City?

Gender imbalance is important when evaluating a city because it impacts many social aspects. So, what kind of impact on a city does gender imbalance have? According to many studies, there is no one exact answer to this question as it depends on the city and its specific situation. However, generally speaking, a city with a more balanced male-female population would be considered more stable and prosperous.

Studies about gender imbalances have shown that when there are too many or too few men in a population, it can lead to increased crime rates and other social problems. For example, in societies with a large gender imbalance, young men may be more likely to engage in criminal activity in order to prove their masculinity. Conversely, in societies with too many women, they may be at a disadvantage when competing for jobs and other resources.

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Insight Pages for Roanoke Rapids

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Roanoke Rapids: A declining city

Rated 5.0 out of 5
December 13, 2023

I was somewhat dismayed at the evaluation of Roanoke Rapids, NC. The harsh truth is that this is rapidly becoming a city plagued with drug crime, breaking and entering, robberies, and gang related shootings. There are some good places in Roanoke Rapids to live, such as River Run, Becker Drive and other affluent areas, but most of Roanoke Rapids has been occupied by poorer groups of citizens, that often end up involved in gangs, crime and drug use. Shootings in the projects and Licoln Heights area occur frequently and on a daily basis. However, there are some median living areas that are ok, and provide decent housing. Other positives include good shopping areas, a walking trail, and fishing on the nearby Gaston Lake and Roanoke River. The Roanoke Valley school system like many around the nation is also in decline with fights at the schools and a very lowered expectation of educational requirements for graduation: not to mention very little chance for kids to get out and do things…mainly due to dangers from people in general these days. I would give Roanoke Rapids a split review related to the areas of living vs crime ect. The housing projects, mobile home parks, Lincoln Heights and other less affluent areas get a rating of 35 to 40. The middle class areas that make up 1/3 of Roanoke Rapids gets a 60 to 75 percent rating, and the affluent areas get a 95 to 99 percent rating.

David Turner

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