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Locust vs Red Cross

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+52.1 pts in Locust) and size (6.5× in Locust).

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Locust, NCKnown for its schoolsNorth Carolina · 5,840 people
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Red Cross, NCA small town of 903North Carolina · 903 people
Swap order
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

LocustKnown for its schools
Schools#61 for schools in NCof 252 towns Outdoors#78 most trails in NC4.2 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves HealthHealthier than 62%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Locust →
Red CrossA small town of 903
Quiet strengthsRed Cross doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Red Cross →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Growth since 2010+52.1 pts
Locust has grown faster since 2010
Locust +54.8%Red Cross +2.7%
Size6.5×
Locust is the bigger place
Locust 5,840Red Cross 903
Property tax bill+75%
Tax bills are bigger in Locust
Locust $2,136Red Cross $1,222
Street grid2.7×
Locust has the more walkable street grid
Locust 27.0Red Cross 10.1
Typical home built27 yrs
Red Cross’s homes are older
Locust 2006Red Cross 1979
Home values+25%
Homes cost more in Locust
Locust $322,100Red Cross $257,000
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $330 more a month in Locust

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Locust$2,220/mo
Typical home $383K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.66% · or rent about $895/mo · Housing →
Red Cross$1,890/mo
Typical home $336K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.48% · or rent about $711/mo · Housing →

The difference: $330 a month, about $3,900 a year, between Locust and Red Cross.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every North Carolina ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools
B+LocustBetter than 67% of districts in the state B−Red CrossBetter than 45% of districts in the state
Health
BLocustHealthier than 62% of U.S. towns –Red CrossNot graded
Where they are

Locust and Red Cross share a border

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

LocustRed CrossLocustRed Cross
Locust ↔ Red Cross5.1 miles apart · They share a border
Who commutes between them
16 Red Cross residents work in Locust (4.5% of its workers)
Work & commute in Red Cross →
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
LocustRed Cross
Snow a year3″1″
January low29°F31°F
July high92°F89°F
Growing season (days)215d220d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)37th58th
Outdoors & history
LocustRed Cross
Trails4 mi—
Conserved land0.9%—
Settled—2002
Famous people born here1—
Community
LocustRed Cross
Library hours a week46 hrs—
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

LocustRed Cross
People
Population 5,840Highest 903Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +54.8%Highest NC: +9.5% +2.7%Lowest NC: +9.5%
Median age 36.2±6.4Lowest 7% below NC 38±4.7Highest about the NC average
Red Cross and Locust are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 23.8%±5.2Lowest NC: 21.8% 24.4%±6Highest NC: 21.8%
Red Cross and Locust are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 19.4%±4.9Lowest NC: 17.2% 20.6%±2.8Highest NC: 17.2%
Red Cross and Locust are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 22.5%Highest NC: 35.7% 12.8%Lowest NC: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.6%±1.8Lowest NC: 6.4% 5.2%±3.2Highest NC: 6.4%
Red Cross and Locust are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $76,504±$19kHighest 6% above NC $64,500±$14kLowest 11% below NC
Locust and Red Cross are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $322,100±$32kHighest 11% above NC $257,000±$31kLowest 11% below NC
Rentmedian gross, monthly $895±$609Highest 27% below NC $711±$73Lowest 42% below NC
Locust and Red Cross are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,136Highest 13% above NC $1,222Lowest 36% below NC
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 69.5%±59.1Highest NC: 48.9% 56.7%±24.6Lowest NC: 48.9%
Locust and Red Cross are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 8.7%Highest NC: 13% 7.7%Lowest NC: 13%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 86.9%Highest NC: 66.6% 75.5%Lowest NC: 66.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 2006Highest 15 yrs newer than NC 1979Lowest 12 yrs older than NC
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 33 minHighest 30% above NC 27 minLowest 6% above NC
Work from home 13.5%±6.4Highest NC: 16.3% 9.8%±6.9Lowest NC: 16.3%
Locust and Red Cross are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 4.1%Highest 0.6%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 21.8 miHighest 20.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.83Highest 0.57Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Charlotte (31%)Charlotte (21%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Red Cross5% work in Locust
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.9%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 4.2 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.5 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 27.0Highest 10.1Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #61 of 252 in NC—
School district Stanly County SchoolsStanly County Schools
High school in town None in townWest Stanly High
Students per teacherat that high school — 17.9
North Carolina average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Locust neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Locust’s Town Square.

Red Cross neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Red Cross’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Locust and Red Cross

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Locust

S
+ Compare
Stanfield1,522 people · $336K homes
M
+ Compare
Midland4,860 people · $369K homes

Towns like Locust

U
+ Compare
Unionville6,954 people · $336K homes
L
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Landis3,765 people · $252K homes
P
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Pleasant Garden5,060 people · $224K homes
O
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Oakboro2,683 people · $283K homes
Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks North Carolina towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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