Is China Grove, NC a Good Place to Live?
China Grove is a small town of 4,449 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $44,881 and a 8.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.
Strengths: China Grove stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether China Grove is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All China Grove city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 97.0China Grove's overall cost of living index is 97.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in China Grove costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.
| Metric | China Grove, NC | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $183,900 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.7% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $44,881 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeChina Grove's violent crime rate is 151.8 per 100,000 residents — 60% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
China Grove is served primarily by Rowan-Salisbury Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.3:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | China Grove, NC | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | — |
| Elementary Schools | 17 | — |
| Middle Schools | 6 | — |
| High Schools | 8 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 17.3:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.6% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 79.9% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
China Grove sees average highs of 50.2°F in January and 88.6°F in July, with 46.5 inches of annual precipitation and 3.7 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | China Grove, NC |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 50.2°F |
| Average High — July | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" |
Demographics
| Metric | China Grove, NC | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,449 | — |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 27.4 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 66.0% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 5.2% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 24.7% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 1.6% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 14.5% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in China Grove
China Grove, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: