Rocky Mount, NC Demographics

A map of Rocky Mount's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Black	33,881	34,426	62.4%	63.4%
White	14,138	14,470	26.0%	26.6%
Hispanic	2,997	2,672	5.5%	4.9%
Multiracial	1,826	1,454	3.4%	2.7%
Asian	800	757	1.5%	1.4%
Native American/Other	655	562	1.2%	1.0%

Rocky Mount, North Carolina has an estimated population of 54,297, a less than 1% change from the 54,341 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 62.4% Black, 26.0% White, 5.5% Hispanic, 3.4% Multiracial, 1.5% Asian, and 1.2% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Rocky Mount, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Rocky Mount has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is less diverse than North Carolina overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Rocky Mount, that probability was 52.4% in 2020 and 53.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Rocky Mount is ranked the 20th most populous place in North Carolina, out of 776 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Rocky Mount was ranked the 19th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Rocky Mount's White Population

14,138 residents of Rocky Mount, or 26.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Rocky Mount is significantly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Rocky Mount ranks 722nd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Rocky Mount's White population has declined by an estimated 2.3%. White residents' share of Rocky Mount's population has decreased from 26.6% to 26.0%.

Rocky Mount is more White than neighboring Whitakers (16.8% White). Rocky Mount is less White than neighboring Dortches (55% White), Sharpsburg (38.2% White), Red Oak (80.1% White), and Nashville (38.2% White).

Rocky Mount's Black Population

33,881 residents of Rocky Mount, or 62.4% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Rocky Mount is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Rocky Mount ranks 36th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Rocky Mount's Black population has declined by an estimated 1.6%. Black residents' share of Rocky Mount's population has decreased from 63.4% to 62.4%.

Rocky Mount is more Black than neighboring Dortches (31.6% Black), Sharpsburg (57.9% Black), Red Oak (10.7% Black), and Nashville (59.9% Black). Rocky Mount is less Black than neighboring Whitakers (79.8% Black).

Rocky Mount's Asian Population

800 residents of Rocky Mount, or 1.5% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Rocky Mount is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Rocky Mount ranks 182nd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Rocky Mount's Asian population has grown by an estimated 5.7%. Asian residents' share of Rocky Mount's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.5%.

Rocky Mount is more Asian than neighboring Dortches (0.2% Asian), Red Oak (0% Asian), Nashville (0.5% Asian), and Whitakers (0% Asian). Rocky Mount is less Asian than neighboring Sharpsburg (2.6% Asian).

Rocky Mount's Hispanic Population

2,997 residents of Rocky Mount, or 5.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Rocky Mount is lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Rocky Mount ranks 457th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Rocky Mount's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 12.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Rocky Mount's population has increased from 4.9% to 5.5%.

Rocky Mount is more Hispanic than neighboring Sharpsburg (0% Hispanic), Red Oak (0% Hispanic), Nashville (0.1% Hispanic), and Whitakers (0% Hispanic). Rocky Mount is less Hispanic than neighboring Dortches (9.8% Hispanic).

Rocky Mount's Native American/Other Population

655 residents of Rocky Mount, or 1.2% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Rocky Mount is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Rocky Mount ranks 236th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Rocky Mount's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 16.5%. Native American/Other residents' share of Rocky Mount's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.2%.

Rocky Mount is more Native American/Other than neighboring Sharpsburg (0.7% Native American/Other), Nashville (0% Native American/Other), and Whitakers (0% Native American/Other). Rocky Mount is less Native American/Other than neighboring Dortches (2.2% Native American/Other), and Red Oak (2.9% Native American/Other).

Rocky Mount's Multiracial Population

1,826 residents of Rocky Mount, or 3.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Rocky Mount is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Rocky Mount ranks 610th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Rocky Mount's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 25.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Rocky Mount's population has increased from 2.7% to 3.4%.

Rocky Mount is more Multiracial than neighboring Dortches (1.1% Multiracial), Sharpsburg (0.6% Multiracial), and Nashville (1.3% Multiracial). Rocky Mount is less Multiracial than neighboring Red Oak (6.3% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.