Renovations are reshaping East Rockingham
Situated less than 10 miles north of the South Carolina border, East Rockingham is an up-and-coming suburb of Rockingham . Separated from the city by the South Prong of Falling Creek, the enclave puts residents only a few miles from the shopping, dining and entertainment in downtown Rockingham, which is undergoing a decades-long revitalization. East Rockingham, which made headlines in 2022 when its former J.P. Stevens plant burned to the ground, is today becoming known for home renovations. The community of fewer than 4,000 people offers nearby highway access and features a central green space that provides recreation for all ages.
Cottages, ranch-style homes and manufactured homes in need of TLC
Single-family homes in East Rockingham are primarily post-war cottages and midcentury ranch-style homes that line narrow, unmarked streets without sidewalks. There are also manufactured homes. Properties vary widely in condition from one home to the next in East Rockingham’s gridded center, where fully renovated dwellings with manicured lawns and privacy fences can sit across abandoned properties that are being reclaimed by nature. Most homes cost between $45,000 and $280,000, significantly below the national median. However, buyers interested in complete remodels can find properties needing major repairs for as little as $25,000. Potential buyers should note that, according to FEMA flood maps, homes near creeks may face a flood risk. Properties near Richmond County Airport may hear airport noise.
Richmond County offers above-average public schools
Richmond County Schools earns a B overall rating from Niche. The district has about 6,500 students across 15 schools. Students in East Rockingham can attend the B-minus-rated East Rockingham Elementary, the B-minus-rated Rockingham Middle and the B-minus-rated Richmond Senior High. The high school is welcoming ninth graders to its campus for the first time in the fall of 2025, ending a years-long process to shift the district from a junior high structure to one in which ninth through 12th grades are served under one roof. Students interested in pursuing a college degree can apply to attend the A-rated Richmond Early College High. Richmond Community College is less than 5 miles away.
Rockingham’s green spaces offer places to play and connect with nature
East Rockingham has one public park, Herbert C. Diggs Memorial Park, which bustles with activity during the sweltering North Carolina summers as families visit the pool to cool off. Youth baseball and softball leagues utilize the park’s three ballfields, while the community’s older adults enjoy social clubs inside at the East Rockingham Senior Center. There’s also a playground beside a picnic shelter. Rockingham offers more green spaces, including the Hitchcock Creek Blue Trail and Greenway, which provides a scenic hike or bike ride along its tree-shaded namesake creek and an access point for kayakers. Boating and fishing are popular pastimes along the Great Pee Dee River. A public boat ramp is less than 10 miles away.
NASCAR returns to Rockingham Speedway
East Rockingham is about 12 miles away from Rockingham Speedway, which welcomed NASCAR back in 2025 after a nearly two-decade-long hiatus. The more than 250-acre racetrack and events venue, lovingly known as The Rock, opened in 1965 and features a nearly one-mile-long oval track. A few weeks after a NASCAR triple-header on Easter Weekend in 2025, the raceway was listed for sale.
East Rockingham residents head to the city to shop and dine
A few businesses dot East Rockingham, including an IGA grocery store and Family Dollar. However, most residents do their shopping in the city along East Broad Avenue, where national retailers and chain restaurants fill shopping centers, such as Richmond Plaza. Downtown Rockingham offers boutique shopping and local restaurants, as well as entertainment at Richmond Community Theatre and family fun at Discovery Place Kids, a children’s museum. Healthcare is close by at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital – Richmond.
Highways lead to Charlotte and Fayetteville
East Rockingham is primarily car dependent. U.S. Route 1 passes through the community and connects commuters to U.S. Routes 74 and 220 to reach destinations around the North Carolina Sandhills. Charlotte , home to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, is about 70 miles away. Fort Bragg, a large regional employer outside Fayetteville , is about 55 miles away. Public transportation in East Rockingham is limited, with Area Richmond Transit providing a scheduled ride service.
