Locust is a small rural city in Stanly and Cabarrus counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, Locust had a population of 4,537. It has seen substantial growth lately due to the urban sprawl from the Charlotte area.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Locust ranks

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#25Fastest growing in NC #61Best schools in NC #82Cheapest rent in NC All NC rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code28097

Area code704

Living in Locust

Housing in Locust

$383K≈ same as a year ago Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Locust home is worth about $383,000, about the same as a year ago, 14% above the North Carolina typical home.

A balanced market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market44

Sale-to-list99.7%

Sold in May11

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Locust

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Locust for work: only 4% work in town. The top destinations are Charlotte (31%), Concord (10%) and Albemarle (5%). Half commute less than 22 miles.

Charlotte

31%

Concord

10%

Albemarle

Monroe

4%Work in townlive and work in Locust 22 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 1,839Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Locust →

Health in Locust

Health Grade B

Healthier than 61% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with North Carolina

3better than NC·1worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 28 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▼ 11 close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close Everyday needs 3▲ 1 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

6.5%Fewer adults facing a utility shut-offNC 8.1% · better 10.2%Fewer adults facing housing insecurityNC 12.2% · better 9.2%More adults who have had cancerNC 7.9% · worse

Care nearby

Novant Health Mint Hill Medical CenterCharlotte · 12.4 mi · ER

Logan Family MedicineConcord · 12.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Locust · CMS · HRSAHealth in Locust →

Natural hazards in Locust

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 37% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🌀 Hurricanes

0Does Locust flood?no paid flood claims on record 4Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Locust MapLocust vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Locust →

Climate in Locust

Full climate →

Locust has mild winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 31°, and about 3 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

55° / 33°Winter

73° / 48°Spring

89° / 67°Summer

73° / 50°Fall

How much snow does Locust get?About 3 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 2, with the last in spring around Apr 1.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.9° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Locust →

Schools in Locust

All Locust schools →

B⁺

School Grade B+

The public schools Locust’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 67% of North Carolina’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#61Best public schoolsof 252 in NC

DistrictStanly County SchoolsSchools2

Locust Elementary A-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 563 students Carolina Christian SchoolOther · Grades PK–12 · 247 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within NC. Ratings are from neighbors.