La Grange is a small town of 2,640 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $46,799
and a 8.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
La Grange stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether La Grange is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All La Grange 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: 86.9
La Grange's overall cost of living index is 86.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in La Grange costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
La Grange, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$86,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$695
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
53.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$46,799
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
La Grange's violent crime rate is 330.7 per 100,000 residents
— 13% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
330.7 /100k
Property Crime
1712.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
La Grange is served primarily by Lenoir County Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
La Grange, NC
National Avg
School District
Lenoir County Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
9
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
80.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
La Grange sees average highs of 54.2°F in January
and 91.0°F in July,
with 52.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 2.0 inches of snow per year.
La Grange's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes La Grange roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $86,200 and median rent is $695/month.
La Grange's violent crime rate is 330.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1712.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in La Grange are operated by Lenoir County Public Schools.
The district has 9 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1. 20.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
La Grange, NC has a population of 2,640, a median household income of $46,799, and an unemployment rate of 8.7%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
La Grange averages 54.2°F in January and 91.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.5 inches
with about 2.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
La Grange, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28551.
The population of La Grange, North Carolina is 2,640 with a median age of 39.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in La Grange: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $86,200, median household income $46,799, crime index 85 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare La Grange side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
